1. The son of Captain George Probyn and Alicia Workman, daughter of Sir Francis Workman Macnaghten, 1st Baronet, Dighton Probyn entered the light cavalry arm of the East India Company's Bengal Army as a cornet in 1849, being posted into the 6th Light Cavalry.
At the time of the outbreak of the Indian Rebellion of 1857, on 10 May 1857, Dighton Probyn was at Jullundur, the station of the 6th Bengal Light Cavalry.
Probyn's squadron of the 2nd Punjab Cavalry fought throughout the uprising, with Probyn being 'Mentioned in Despatches' many times for his actions.
Dighton Probyn was brevetted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel in the Bengal Army on 15 February 1861.
Dighton Probyn was brevetted to colonel on 15 February 1866 and to major-general on 25 July 1870.
Dighton Probyn was 24 years old, and a captain in the 2nd Punjab Cavalry, Bengal Army during the Indian Mutiny when the following deeds took place for which he was awarded the VC:.
Dighton Probyn defended himself from the various cuts made at him, and before his own men had joined him had cut down two of his assailants.
Dighton Probyn was knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India on 7 March 1876, and was brevetted to lieutenant-general on 1 October 1877.
Dighton Probyn was promoted to the substantive rank of lieutenant-colonel in the Bengal Cavalry on 1 April 1881, and was transferred to the unemployed list on 1 July 1882.
Dighton Probyn was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath, Civil Division in the 1887 Golden Jubilee Honours.
Dighton Probyn was appointed one of the first Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order on 26 May 1896.
Dighton Probyn was a councillor of the Oxford Military College in Cowley, Oxfordshire from 1876 to 1896, and was appointed a member of the Privy Council on 9 February 1901.
Dighton Probyn was promoted to a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in the 1902 Coronation Honours list published on 26 June 1902, and was invested by King Edward VII at Buckingham Palace on 8 August 1902.
Dighton Probyn was appointed a Companion of the Imperial Service Order on 22 July 1903.
Dighton Probyn was in later life an ornament of the Victorian age, being Keeper of the Privy Purse, a court sinecure position as well as Secretary to the Prince of Wales and Comptroller of the Household.
Dighton Probyn had difficulty hiding the King's extravagance, which the minister Charles Hobhouse refused to defend in the Commons.
Dighton Probyn continued in this role throughout the King's rule and right up to his death.
Dighton Probyn was appointed an Extra Equerry to King Edward VII in 1902.
Dighton Probyn was totally devoted to the Princess, then Queen-Empress, building gardens for her at Windsor Castle and Sandringham House.
Dighton Probyn had an impressive appearance in old age with a very long white beard reaching down to his navel which concealed his VC on ceremonial occasions.
Dighton Probyn married, in 1872, Letitia Maria Thellusson, daughter of Thomas Robarts Thellusson.
Lady Dighton Probyn died at Park House, Sandringham, Norfolk, on 17 January 1900.