Field Marshal John Colborne, 1st Baron Seaton, GCB, GCMG, GCH, PC (Ire) (16 February 1778 – 17 April 1863) was a British Army officer and colonial governor.

[2] Promoted to brevet captain on 12 January 1800, he took part in Sir Ralph Abercromby's expedition to Egypt in August 1801 and was wounded again.

[2] He transferred to the 66th Regiment of Foot on 2 November 1809, and after returning to Spain with Sir Arthur Wellesley's Army, he witnessed the defeat of the Spaniards at the Battle of Ocaña later that month.

[5] After transferring to the command of the 52nd Regiment of Foot he took part in the Siege of Ciudad Rodrigo in January 1812 where he was badly injured and had to be invalided back to England.

At the critical moment of the battle, when the French Imperial Guard attacked Wellington's weakened centre, Colborne made a decisive intervention.

[8] Colborne drove forward towards La Haye Sainte, while Wellington rode back to the main line to order the general advance.

[13] As Lieutenant Governor, Colborne increased the population of the province by 70% by initiating an organised system of immigration to bring in settlers from Britain.

[1] During Colborne's period of office as commander-in-chief, the Family Compact promoted resistance to the political principle of responsible government.

[19] Durham remained in Canada only for a few months, resigning on 9 October and leaving for London on the fifth-rate HMS Inconstant on 1 November,[20] after he learned that his policy of leniency towards the leaders of the prior year's rebellion had been repudiated by the British Government.

[21] He left Canada in October 1839 after the arrival of his successor, Charles Poulett Thomson (who shortly thereafter would be elevated to the peerage as Lord Sydenham).

In recognition of the "important services" rendered by Colborne, and following a message from Queen Victoria,[23] Parliament settled an annuity of £2,000 on him and the next two heirs male who would succeed to the title.

[24] Colborne became High Commissioner of the Ionian Islands in February 1843,[25] and having been promoted to full general on 20 June 1854,[26] he became Commander-in-Chief, Ireland, in 1855.

[4] After standing down from active service in Spring 1860, he was promoted to field marshal on 1 April 1860[27] and retired to his home at Beechwood House in Sparkwell.