Career
Cole was commissioned a cornet in 1787, and served in the West Indies, Ireland, and Egypt. He served as brigadier general in Sicily and commanded the 1st Brigade at the Battle of Maida on the 4 July 1806. In 1808 he was promoted to major-general, to lieutenant-general in 1813 and full general in 1830.
He was colonel of the 27th Foot, commanded the 4th Division in the Peninsular War under Wellington, and was wounded at the Battle of Albuera in which he played a decisive part.
He was also wounded, much more seriously, at Salamanca. Foreign having served with distinction in the battles of Maida, Albuhera, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Orthez and Toulouse, he received the Army Gold Cross with four clasps.
In 1815 he became General Officer Commanding Northern District. He was appointed 2nd Governor of Mauritius from 12 June 1823 to 17 June 1828.
He left in 1828 to take up the post of Governor of the Cape Colony which position he filled until 1833.
He is commemorated in Enniskillen by a statue surmounting a 30-metre column in Fort Hill Park, carried out by the Irish sculptor, Terence Farrell. Frances Cole played a prominent part in social philanthropy in the Cape and worked towards having Coloured children taught useful trades. Colesberg, a town in the Cape, is named after him, as is Sir Lowry"s Pass near Cape Town.
They had two children.
Florence Mary Georgiana Cole, and Colonel Arthur Lowry Cole (24 August 1817-1830 March 1885)
Sarah Cole (d 14 March 1833), married (1790) Owen Wynne
Elizabeth Anne Cole (d 1807), married (1788) Colonel Richard Magennis (d 6 March 1831)
Florence Cole (d 1 March 1862), married (1797) Blaney Townley Balfour of Townley Hall, Drogheda, Company Louth (d 22 December 1856)
Henrietta Frances Cole (22 June 1784-1782 July 1848), married (20 July 1805) Thomas Philip Robinson, 2nd Earl de Grey (8 December 1781-1714 November 1859).