Stapleton Stapleton-Cotton, 1st Viscount Combermere

Stapleton Stapleton-Cotton, 1st Viscount Combermere GCB GCH KSI PC (November 14 1773 – 21 February 1865), British field-marshal and colonel of the 1st Life Guards, 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 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 became a great favourite of 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. 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.

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. Cotton 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 1809, but continued his military career. His share in the Battle of Salamanca (22 July 1812) was especially marked, and he received the personal thanks of Wellington. A painting depicting his acceptance of the French defeat is displayed in the library of Combermere Abbey. The day after, he was accidentally wounded. 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.

He 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 Cotton 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.

Between 1814 and 1820, he 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 he commanded in 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 Indies.

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.

Family

On January 1, 1801, he married Lady Anna Maria Clinton (d. May 31, 1807), daughter of Thomas Pelham-Clinton, 3rd Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyne. They had three children:
* Robert Henry Stapleton Cotton (January 18, 1802 – 1821)
* two sons, died young.On June 18, 1814, he married Caroline Greville (d. January 25, 1837), daughter of Captain William Fulke Greville. They had three children:
* Wellington Henry Stapleton-Cotton, 2nd Viscount Combermere (1818–1891)
* Lady Caroline Stapleton-Cotton (b. 1815), married in 1837 Arthur Hill, 4th Marquess of Downshire
* Lady Meliora Emily Anna Maria Cotton, married on June 18, 1853 John Charles Frederick HunterIn 1838, he married Mary Woolley (née Gibbings), by whom he had no issue.

References

*1911
* [http://www.thornber.net/cheshire/htmlfiles/combermere.html Genealogy of the Cottons]
* [http://pmsa.cch.kcl.ac.uk/LL/CHCN0017.htm Combermere Park obelisk]
*Callander Beckett S (2004) 'A Brief History of Combermere Abbey' (pamphlet)