Who described the kingdom of Awadh as "a cherry that will drop into our mouth one day"?

Lord Dalhousie

The correct answer is Option (1) → Lord Dalhousie

In 1851 Governor General Lord Dalhousie described the kingdom of Awadh as “a cherry that will drop into our mouth one day”. Five years later, in 1856, the kingdom was formally annexed to the British Empire