Richard Dacres ( British Army officer ) Field Marshal Sir Richard James Dacres , GCB ( 1799 – 6 December 1886 ) was a British Army officer during the nineteenth century . Born into a substantial naval dynasty , he would achieve similar status in the military , seeing service in the Crimean War and eventually rising to the rank of field marshal . Family and early life . Richard James was born in 1799 , the son of Richard Dacres , who became a vice - admiral in the Royal Navy , and his wife Martha Phillips Milligan . The Dacres had a long history of naval service , Sydney ' s uncle , James Richard Dacres , was a vice - admiral , while his cousins Barrington Dacres and James Richard Dacres would both serve in the navy , the former becoming a post - captain , the latter a vice - admiral . His younger brother , Sydney Dacres , also had a naval career , eventually reaching the rank of Admiral , and serving as a First Naval Lord . Richard James attended the Royal Military Academy , Woolwich in 1815 , and embarked on a career with the army when he joined the Royal Artillery as a second lieutenant on 15 December 1817 . Career . Dacres was promoted to first lieutenant on 29 August 1825 , and a second captain on 18 December 1837 . He transferred to the Royal Horse Artillery in 1843 and was promoted to major on 11 November 1851 . He became a lieutenant - colonel on 23 February 1852 , and was appointed to command the three troops of Royal Horse Artillery sent to take part in the Crimean War . He and his forces were attached to the cavalry , commanded by Lord Lucan . Dacres commanded his forces at the Battles of Alma , Balaclava and Inkerman , and throughout the Siege of Sevastopol . He was with the headquarters - staff at Balaclava , having his horse killed under him . When Brigadier - General Fox - Strangways was killed in the battle , Dacres took over command of all the artillery in the Crimea , retaining the post until the end of the war . He was advanced to the local rank of colonel on 23 February 1855 , brigadier general on 30 March 1855 , and was promoted to major - general on 29 June that year . He was created a Knight Commander of the Bath on 5 July 1855 for his services in the capture of artillery at Sevastopol , as well as a Commander of the Order of Savoy , and a Commander of the Légion d ' honneur . He was also among the officers authorised to accept the appointment to the Second Class of the Order of Medjidie on 2 March 1858 . Dacres was appointed Commandant of the Woolwich district in May 1859 , holding the position until 1865 . Dacres was made colonel - commandant of the Royal Horse Artillery on 28 July 1864 , and was promoted to lieutenant general on 10 December 1864 . He was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath on 2 June 1869 . He was retired from active service at the rank of colonel - commandant on 2 October 1877 , and was subsequently appointed to the position of Constable of the Tower on 27 July 1881 , a position he occupied when the tower was one of the London targets bombed on 24 January 1885 by Feinian terrorists , wounding several people and causing some damage by fire . He became master gunner of England in 1882 . Dacres was made a field marshal in July 1886 , but died at Brighton on 6 December 1886 at the age of 87 . He was succeeded as Constable of the Tower and Lord Lieutenant of the Tower Hamlets by The Lord Napier of Magdala on 6 January 1887 . Family and personal life . Dacres married Frances Brooking Thomas , granddaughter of William Bevil Thomas , at St . John ' s , Newfoundland on 3 November 1840 .