British Army Field Marshal. Born the son of Lieutenant-Colonel John Woodford of the Grenadier Guards and Susan Gordon, he entered the Army in 1794 upon his commission as an Ensign in the Fourteenth Light Dragoons. Promoted to Lieutenant in 1795, and Captain in 1799. Joined the Ninth Regiment of Foot, and subsequently transferred to the Coldstream Guards. Heavily active throughout the Napoleonic Wars. By 1803 he was aide-de-camp to Major-General James Forbes, assigned to protect the coast from a possible French invasion. In 1810, he purchased a promotion to Lieutenant-Colonel. The following year, he fought under Sir Arthur Wellesley (later Duke of Wellington) during the Peninsular War. Became officer-commanding the First Battalion of the Coldstream Guards in 1813. Appointed to command the Second Battalion of the Coldstream Guards in 1815. He was present at the Battle of Waterloo where he was engaged in the Allies' desperate, but successful, holding action at Quartre Bras on June 16, 1815. Upon the Duke of Wellington's specific orders, Woodford was appointed senior officer in the defense of Hougomont. After Napoleon's final defeat at Waterloo, Woodford spent three years with the Allied forces occupying France. Promoted to Major-General in 1825. Served as Acting-Governor of Malta from 1826 to 1827. Appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in 1831, and a Knight Commander of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (KCMG) in 1832. Both of his ranks in these Orders were later elevated to Knight Grand Cross (GCB and GCMG). Appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Gibraltar in 1835, and served as Governor of Gibralter from 1836 to 1842. Promoted to Lieutenant-General in 1838, and General in 1854. Woodford became Lieutenant-Governor of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, in 1856. In 1863, he was promoted to Field Marshal. He became Governor of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, in 1868. Woodford's honourary regimental appointments included Colonel of the Fourtieth Regiment of Foot in 1842, and Colonel of the Scots Fusilier Guards in 1861. In addition to the many honours bestowed upon him by Great Britain, Woodford was honoured by the Austro-Hugarian Empire with appointment to the Military Order of Maria Theresa, and by Russia with appointment to the Order of St. George.