Mountbatten, Louis (1900-1979), a member of the royal family of the United Kingdom, distinguished himself as a military leader and as the last viceroy (ruler) of the British colony of India. He served as chief of combined British operations during World War II (1939-1945). Mountbatten later became first sea lord, the United Kingdom's highest naval officer. As viceroy of India, he helped arrange for that country's independence.