William Stephen Raikes Hodson

William Stephen Raikes Hodson (19 March 1821 – 11 March 1858) was an English leader who raised and commanded an irregular light cavalry regiment during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. He was known as "Hodson of Hodson's Horse".

The most celebrated action during his military tenure was to apprehend Bahadur Shah II, the MughalEmperor of India. The following day, Hodson rode to the enemy camp, heavily outnumbered by the rebels, and demanded the surrender of the Mughal princes who were leading the rebellion around Delhi; he led the captured princes back to the walled city, and, upon finding surrounded by a large group of common citizenry, proceeded to shoot his prisoners before the astounded populace.

Hodson's career received praise from a number of senior military commanders, such as General Hugh Gough, but there were dissenting voices from other members of the military. There were also politicians who felt the killing of the Mughal princes by Hodson had been "dishonourable". However, Hodson's career received praise from more senior politicians including the British prime minister and the secretary of state for India.

Hodson is credited with being jointly responsible for the introduction of the first khaki uniforms in the presidency armies, the military forces of the British East India Company that were eventually reorganised into the British Indian Army before spawning into the modern Indian Army following its independence in 1947.