Coote, Sir Eyre (1759–1823), general and MP, was born c.20 May 1759, second son of the Rev. Charles Coote (qv) of Shaen Castle, Queen's Co. (Laois), dean of Kilfenora, Co. Clare, and Grace Coote (née Tilson). Educated at Eton (1767–71), he entered TCD 1 November 1774, but did not graduate. In 1776 he was commissioned ensign in the 37th Foot and carried the regiment's colours at the battle of Brooklyn (27 August 1776). He fought in several of the major battles in the American war, including Rhode Island (15 September 1776), Brandywine (11 September 1777) and the siege of Charlestown (1780); he served under Cornwallis (qv) in Virginia and was taken prisoner at Yorktown in October 1781.
On his release he returned to England, was promoted major in the 47th Regiment (1783), and in 1784 inherited the substantial estates of his uncle Sir Eyre Coote (qv); he inherited a further £200,000 by remainder on his father's death in 1796. He resided for a time at Portrane House, Maryborough, Queen's Co., and was elected MP for Ballynakill (1790–97) and Maryborough (1797–1800). Although he opposed the union, he vacated his seat to allow his elder brother Charles (1754–1823), 2nd Baron Castle Coote from 1802, to return a pro-union member. He served with distinction in the West Indies (1793–5), particularly at the storming of Guadaloupe (3 July 1794), and became colonel of the 70th Regiment (1794), ADC to the king (1795), and brigadier-general in charge of the camp at Bandon, Co. Cork (1796). He was active in suppressing the United Irishmen in Cork throughout 1797, and in June arrested several soldiers and locals suspected of attempting to suborn the Bandon camp. On 1 January 1798 he was promoted major-general and given the command at Dover. He led the expedition of 1,400 men that destroyed the canal gates at Ostend on 18 May 1798, holding out stubbornly for two days against superior Dutch forces until he was seriously wounded and his force overwhelmed. Taken prisoner, he was exchanged and in 1800 commanded a brigade in Abercromby's Mediterranean campaign, distinguishing himself at Aboukir and Alexandria. For his services in Egypt he received the thanks of parliament, was made a knight of the Bath, and was granted the Ottoman order of the Crescent.
In 1801 he returned to Ireland. Elected MP for Queen's Co. (1802–6), he generally supported the government, and was appointed governor of the fort of Maryborough. He gave the site and a large sum of money towards the building of the old county hospital in Maryborough. In 1805 he was promoted lieutenant-general, and he served as lieutenant-governor of Jamaica 1806–8. His physical and mental health deteriorated in the West Indian climate, and he was relieved of his post in April 1808. He was second in command in the Walcheren expedition of 1809 and led the force that took the fortress of Flushing. However, he showed signs of severe stress during the campaign and asked to be relieved from command because his eldest daughter was seriously ill. He was conferred LLD at Trinity College, Cambridge (1811). Elected MP for Barnstaple, Devon (1812–18), he usually voted with government, but opposed them by supporting catholic emancipation (2, 13 March, 24 May 1813), claiming that catholics strongly deserved relief because of the great contribution catholic soldiers had made during the war. He strongly opposed the abolition of flogging in the army (15 March 1813). Despite a growing reputation for eccentricity, he was promoted full general in 1814 and appointed GCB (2 January 1815), but his conduct became increasingly erratic: in November 1815 he paid boys at Christ's Hospital school, London, to allow him to flog them and to flog him in return. Discovered by the school matron, he was charged with indecent behaviour. The lord mayor dismissed the case and Coote donated £1,000 to the school, but the scandal led to a military inquiry (18 April 1816). Although it was argued that Coote's mind had been affected by the Jamaican sun and the deaths of his daughters, the inquiry found that he was not insane and that his conduct was unworthy of an officer. Despite the protests of many senior officers, he was discharged from the army and deprived of his honours. He continued to decline and died in London 10 December 1823. He was buried at his seat of West Park, Hampshire, where in 1828 a large monument was erected to him and his uncle Sir Eyre Coote.
He married first (1785) Sarah Robard (c.1765–1795), with whom he had three daughters, all of whom died young of consumption; secondly (1805), Katherine, daughter of John Bagwell (qv) of Marlfield, Co. Tipperary, with whom he had one son, his heir Eyre Coote III (1806–34), MP for Clonmel 1830–33. He also had a child by Sally, a slave girl in Jamaica, from whom Colin Powell, US army general and secretary of state (2001–5), claims descent.