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.
