Sir Charles William Doyle (1770–1842): Irish Army officer, from a military family based in Kilkenny. He joined the 14th Foot as an ensign in 1783 and from 1793 onwards served with distinction in the Netherlands, the West Indies and Egypt. In 1808–1811 Doyle helped to arm and train Spanish troops in the Peninsular War. His work was judged a great success, especially in forming a group of light infantry known as ‘Doyle’s Triadores’ and he was made a Lieutenant-General in the Spanish Army. In 1811–1814 he served as Director and Inspector-General of Military Instruction to British troops in Spain. Doyle was knighted in 1813 and eventually reached the rank of Lieutenant-General in the British Army in 1837, though he never saw active service again after his time in Spain. He sent Southey some of his papers in 1823 to aid in the writing of the History of the Peninsular War (1823–1832).