Stapleton Cotton, 1st Viscount Combermere
The Viscount Combermere | |
|---|---|
| Governor of Barbados | |
| In office 1817–1820 | |
| Monarch | George III |
| Preceded by | John Foster Alleyne (acting) |
| Succeeded by | John Brathwaite Skeete (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 14 November 1773 Lleweni Hall, Denbighshire |
| Died | 21 February 1865 (aged 91) Clifton, Bristol, Bristol |
| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | Westminster School |
| Awards | Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Guelphic Order Knight Companion of the Order of the Star of India |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Great Britain United Kingdom |
| Branch/service | British Army |
| Years of service | 1790–1830 |
| Rank | Field Marshal |
| Commands | 25th Light Dragoons 16th Light Dragoons Commander-in-Chief, Ireland Commander-in-Chief, India |
| Battles/wars | French Revolutionary Wars Fourth Anglo-Mysore War Peninsular War |
Field Marshal Stapleton Cotton, 1st Viscount Combermere, GCB, GCH, KSI, PC (14 November 1773 – 21 February 1865) was a British Army officer, politician and colonial administrator who served as the governor of Barbados from 1817 to 1820. As a junior officer, he took part in the Flanders campaign, the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War and in the Irish rebellion of 1803. Cotton commanded a cavalry brigade in Sir Arthur Wellesley's Army before being given overall command of the cavalry in the latter stages of the Peninsular War. He went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Ireland and then Commander-in-Chief, India. In the latter role he stormed Bharatpur—a fort which previously had been deemed impregnable.