Stannus was born into a wealthy Irish family in about 1784. He went out to India as a cadet in 1799 and was commissioned as an ensign in the Bombay Army on 6 March 1800. He thereafter became lieutenant on 26 May, and was appointed to the European regiment in 1803.
He served in the Kathiawar campaign in 1807, and became captain on 6 July 1811.[1] He distinguished himself in the Third Anglo-Maratha War of 1817–18, was promoted major on 8 Oct. 1818, and was private secretary to Mountstuart Elphinstone while governor of Madras between 1819–27. He was made lieutenant-colonel of the 9th native infantry on 31 Oct. 1822, C.B. on 23 July 1823, and colonel of the 10th native infantry on 5 June 1829.
Though just and kindly, he was no administrator, and was systematically irritated by the cadets into extraordinary explosions of wrath and violent language.[3] Nonetheless notwithstanding his quickness of temper and his use of strong language, Stannus was a favourite with the cadets. He remained in charge at Addiscombe until his death of a heart attack in 1850.[2]
He married Mary Louisa, widow of James Gordon but had no children.
