Lieutenant-General Viscount Hugh Gough (1779-1869), 1853

Oil on paper laid on to canvas, by Sir Francis Grant (1803-1878), 1853.

Full-length portrait of Lieutenant-General Viscount Hugh Gough wearing a campaign coat.

Lieutenant-General (later Field Marshal Viscount Gough) Hugh Gough enjoyed an extensive and illustrious military career, seeing service in the West Indies, Southern Africa, Spain, China and India. He distinguished himself in the Peninsular War (1808-1814) where he was twice seriously wounded. His first senior command was during the 1st China War (1839-1842), and he commanded the victorious British forces in the 1st Sikh War (1845-1846). Although equally successful in the 2nd Sikh War (1848-1849), his reputation was somewhat sullied by his clumsy tactics during the Battle of Chilianwala (13 January 1849), which resulted in heavy British casualties for which he received much criticism.