Stapleton Cotton , 1st Viscount Combermere Field Marshal Stapleton Cotton , 1st Viscount Combermere GCB , GCH , KSI , PC ( 14 November 1773 – 21 February 1865 ) , was a British military leader , diplomat and politician . He was a colonel of the 1st Life Guards , Commander - in - Chief , Ireland and served with distinction under Arthur Wellesley , 1st Duke of Wellington in the Peninsular War . Early career . He was the second son of Sir Robert Salusbury Cotton , 5th Baronet of Combermere Abbey , Shropshire , and was born on 14 November 1773 , at Lleweni Hall in Denbighshire . He was educated at Westminster School , and when only sixteen obtained a second lieutenancy in the 23rd Regiment of Foot . A few years afterwards ( 1793 ) he became by purchase a captain in the 6th Dragoon Guards , and he served in this regiment during the campaigns of the Duke of York in Flanders . While yet in his twentieth year , he joined the 25th Light Dragoons ( subsequently 22nd ) as lieutenant colonel , and , while in attendance with his regiment on George III at Weymouth , he was noticed by the king . In 1796 he went with his regiment to India , taking part en route in the operations in Cape Colony ( July – August 1796 ) , and in 1799 served in the war with Tippoo Sahib , and at the storming of Seringapatam ( Srirangapatna ) . Soon after this , having become heir to the family baronetcy , he was , at his father ' s desire , exchanged into a regiment at home , the 16th Light Dragoons . He was stationed in Ireland during Robert Emmet ' s insurrection , became colonel in 1800 , and major general five years later . Peninsular War . From 1806 to 1814 he was M . P . for Newark . In 1808 he was sent to the seat of war in Portugal , where he shortly rose to the position of commander of Wellington ' s cavalry , and it was here that he most displayed that courage and judgment which won for him his fame as a cavalry officer . He was nicknamed the " Lion d ' Or " during his Peninsular War years , because of his fearlessness and the ostentatious splendour of his uniforms and equipment . He succeeded to the baronetcy in 1807 , but continued his military career . His share in the Battle of Salamanca ( 22 July 1812 ) was especially marked , causing Wellington to say to him , " By God , Cotton , I never saw anything so beautiful in my life ; the day is yours . " Afterwards he received the personal thanks of Wellington . The day after he was wounded in an accident . A painting depicting his acceptance of the French defeat is displayed in the library of Combermere Abbey . He displayed coolness under fire at the Battle of Venta del Pozo on 23 October 1812 , where he led the army ' s rearguard . He was now a lieutenant general in the British army and a K . B . , and on the conclusion of peace ( 1814 ) was raised to the peerage under the style of Baron Combermere . Later career . Lord Combermere was not present at Waterloo , the command , which he expected , and bitterly regretted not receiving , having been given to Lord Uxbridge . When the latter was wounded Combermere was sent for to take over his command , and he remained in France until the reduction of the allied army of occupation . In 1817 he was appointed governor of Barbados and commander of the West Indian forces . Lord Combermere is mentioned in unverified stories of the Chase Vault as being a witness to its allegedly " moving coffins " while serving as Governor of Barbados . Between 1814 and 1820 , Combermere undertook an extensive remodelling of his home , Combermere Abbey , including Gothic ornamentation of the Abbot ' s House and the construction of Wellington ' s Wing ( now demolished ) to mark Wellington ' s visit to the house in 1820 . From 1822 to 1825 Combermere was Commander - in - Chief , Ireland . His career of active service was concluded in India ( 1826 ) , where he besieged and took Bharatpur — a fort which twenty - two years previously had defied the genius of Lake and was deemed impregnable . For this service he was created Viscount Combermere . A long period of peace and honour still remained to him at home . In 1834 he was sworn a privy councillor , and in 1852 he succeeded Wellington as Constable of the Tower and Lord Lieutenant of the Tower Hamlets . In 1855 he was made a field marshal and G . C . B . He died at Clifton on 21 February 1865 . Despite Combermere ' s distinguished service , much of it under Wellington ' s command , the Duke is reported to have referred to Combermere as " a damned fool " , but at the same time recommending him for command in the East . An equestrian statue in bronze , the work of Carlo , Baron Marochetti , was raised in his honour at Chester by the inhabitants of Cheshire . An obelisk was also erected in his memory on the edge of Combermere Park in 1890 , under the terms of his widow ' s will . Combermere was succeeded by his only son , Wellington Henry ( 1818 – 1891 ) , and the viscountcy is still held by his descendants . Lord Combermere had such an influence on the Duke Of Wellington that a house has been named after him at Wellington College , a school created due to the wonderful work which the Duke did for his country Family . On 1 January 1801 , Combermere married Lady Anna Maria Clinton ( d . 31 May 1807 ) , daughter of Thomas Pelham - Clinton , 3rd Duke of Newcastle - under - Lyne . They had three children : On 18 June 1814 , he married Caroline Greville ( d . 25 January 1837 ) , daughter of Captain William Fulke Greville . They had three children : In 1838 , Combermere married Mary Woolley ( née Gibbings ) , by whom he had no issue .