Dictionary of Indian Biography/Cotton, Sir Sydney
COTTON, SIR SYDNEY (1792–1874)
Son of Henry Calverley Cotton, and brother of Sir Arthur T. Cotton (q.v.) : born Dec. 2, 1792 : arrived in India in a regiment of Dragoons, 1810 : served in the Madras, Bombay, and Bengal Presidencies for many years : in the Pindari war, 1817–8 : in Burma, 1828 : in Sind, under Sir C. Napier, 1842–3 : in the Carnatic and Mysore : on the Staff in Madras and Bangalore : commanded in various stations and was A.D.C. to Lord Combermere and Military Secretary : commanded on the N.W. frontier in 1853, in the Kohat Pass, against the Afridis and, later, the Mohmands : was, in the mutiny, Brig-General at Peshawar and, owing to his foresight and decision, there was no serious disturbance there— "the right man for the place" : commanded an expedition against the fanatical colony of Sitana : Maj-General and K.C.B., 1858 : commanded the N.W. district in England : Lt-General, 1866 : Governor of Chelsea Hospital, 1872 : G.C.B., 1873 : died Feb. 20, 1874 : he was "a thorough soldier, an officer of unusual energy and activity" : he wrote Nine Years on the N.W. Frontier, 1854–63, andlon The Central Asian Question.