Background
Stapleton Cotton was the second son of Sir Robert Salusbury Cotton of Comber- mere Abbey, Cheshire, and was born on the 14th of November 1773, at Llewenny Hall in Denbighshire.
Stapleton Cotton was the second son of Sir Robert Salusbury Cotton of Comber- mere Abbey, Cheshire, and was born on the 14th of November 1773, at Llewenny Hall in Denbighshire.
Stapleton Cotton was educated at Westminster School, and when only sixteen obtained a second lieutenancy in the 23rd regiment (Royal Welsh Fusiliers).
While yet in his twentieth year, Stapleton Cotton 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 cn 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.
He was stationed in Ireland during Emmett's insurrection, became colonel in 1800, and major-general five years later.
From 1806 to 1814 he was M. P. for Newark.
His share in the battle of Salamanca (22nd of July 1812) was especially marked, and he received the personal thanks of Wellington.
The day after, he was accidentally wounded.
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.
From 1822 to 1825 he commanded in Ireland.
For this service he was created Viscount Combermere.
A long period of peace and honour still remained to him at home.
In 1855 he was made a field-marshal and G. C. B.
An equestrian statue in bronze, the work of Baron Marochetti, was raised in his honour at Chester by the inhabitants of Cheshire.
Combermere was succeeded by his only son, Wellington Henry (1818-, and the viscountcy is still held by his descendants. See Viscountess Combermere and Captain W. W. Knollys, The Combermere Correspondence (London, 1866).
Combermere was married three times.