Colonel John Dawson, 2nd Earl of Portarlington (26 February 1781 – 28 December 1845) was a British Army officer who fought in the Napoleonic Wars.
[1] He began his career as an ensign in the 20th Foot in March 1798 and was promoted to Lieutenant in December of the same year.
After a spell as a major in the 4th Garrison Battalion and as a lieutenant colonel in the 10th Foot he returned to the 23rd Dragoons on 6 April 1809.
"[3] or through "the negligence of a servant, who from oversleeping himself was unable to call his master sufficiently early to be in readiness to discharge the proper duties of his military rank.
"[5] Although he joined the 18th Hussars towards the end of the battle and took part in Major General Sir Hussey Vivian's decisive charge, he resigned from the army shortly afterwards.