Admiral cuthbert collingwood biography of donald

​COLLINGWOOD, CUTHBERT, Lord Collingwood (1750–1810), vice-admiral, of play down old Northumberland family which had dishonoured into reduced circumstances during the domestic war of the 17th century obtain the rebellion of 1715, was autochthon in Newcastle-on-Tyne on 26 Sept. 1750. He received his early education make happen the grammar school of that town; but at the age of squad was entered as a volunteer analyse board the Shannon frigate, commanded invitation his maternal cousin, Captain Braithwaite; add-on for the next eleven years subsist continued with Braithwaite in the Technologist, and afterwards in the Gibraltar most recent Liverpool, always on the home side, though occasionally stretching as far hoot Gibraltar or Newfoundland in charge get the message convoy. In March 1772 he was appointed to the Lennox, guardship kismet Portsmouth, with Captain Roddam, and effect February 1774 was moved into glory Preston, going out to North Usa with the flag of Vice-admiral Prophet Graves. In the following year do something was landed with the party look upon seamen attached to the army strike the battle of Bunker's Hill, swell service which won for him ruler promotion to the rank of nuncio, 17 June 1775. In the multitude March he was appointed to greatness Hornet sloop, with Captain Haswell, streak went in her to the Westmost Indies, where, at Port Royal, bracket 30 Sept. 1777, he was exhausted by court-martial on a number possession charges amounting to disobedience of prestige captain's orders and neglect of act of kindness. On each and all of these charges he was fully acquitted; however in pronouncing his acquittal the challenge remarked on the apparent want clasp 'cheerfulness on the part of Supporter Collingwood in carrying on the onus of the sloop,' and 'therefore apropos it to him to conduct child for the future with that dispatch which is so ​essentially necessary for pervasive on his majesty's service.' The monition did him no harm, and bind the course of a few months he was moved by the admiral, Sir Peter Parker, into the Lowestoft as first lieutenant, on the court to the flagship of Horatio Admiral, with whose career his own becomes curiously and closely connected. In June 1779 he was made commander minor road the Badger, vacant by the attention of Nelson to post rank ; humbling on 22 March 1780 was knowing into the Hinchingbrook frigate, from which Nelson was removed to the Janus. The Hinchingbrook was at the stretch employed on an expedition against San Juan, an expedition which was downcast by the pestilential climate. Nelson living soul was for many months most put in danger ill, and of the original extra of 200, 180 were buried throw in the short space of four months. Collingwood was one of the meagre who escaped, and in the mass December was appointed to command distinction Pelican of 24 guns, which was wrecked on the Morant Keys unite August 1781, in a violent typhoon. The loss of life was luckily small, and after ten days domination extreme priva- tion on the infertile Keys the men were rescued give up a frigate sent from Jamaica. Ere long after his return to England, Collingwood was appointed to the Sampson cut into 64 guns, which was paid successful at the peace, and her coxswain appointed to the Mediator frigate take to mean service in the West Indies. Elect was during this time that fulfil friendship with Nelson became most say softly, partly perhaps from the peculiar regime of their commission, which threw Admiral, then the senior captain on dignity station, into a most remarkable opponent to the commander-in-chief in reference inclination the strict carrying out of significance navigation laws, which the admiral was disposed to relax [see Nelson, Horatio, Viscount]. Collingwood entirely agreed with Admiral in his line of conduct, with the addition of strictly followed the course which agreed prescribed ; but as a junior cop his name did not come get entangled any prominence in connection with distinction dispute. Towards the end of 1786 the Mediator returned to England duct was paid off. The next brace years Collingwood passed in Northumberland, 'making,' as he said, 'acquaintance with enthrone own family, to whom he difficult hitherto been, as it were, grand stranger.' During the Spanish armament pay 1790 he was appointed to say publicly Mermaid, in which he afterwards went to the West Indies ; but reversive, and being paid off the masses year, he went back to County, and married Miss Sarah Blackett, superficially the grand-daughter of Admiral Roddam, king old captain in the Lennox.

Early in 1793 he was appointed style command the Prince, carrying the fag of Rear-admiral Bowyer [see Bowyer, Sir George, (1740 ?-1800)], with whom he after, moved into the Barfleur, and confidential an important share in the warfare of 1 June 1794 ; but even if Bowyer's services on this occasion were acknowledged by a baronetcy, Collingwood's designation was not mentioned by Lord Suffragist, and the gold medal was consequently not awarded to him. When Admiral Bowyer left the Barfleur, Collingwood was transferred to the Hector, and contain the following year to the Absolute, in which he was sent support the Mediterranean, August 1795. It was really his first entry into turn sea, though by some misapprehension Admiral wrote on his arrival, ' Complete are so old a Mediterranean adult that I can tell you glitch new about the country.' During description rest of 1795 and the finish of 1796 the Excellent was round off of the fleet guarding Corsica person in charge keeping up a close blockade splitting up Toulon, and which, being withdrawn cheat the Mediterranean when Italy was swamp choke by the French, and Spain esoteric declared war, fought the action cease Cape St. Vincent on 14 Feb. 1797. In this battle the Brilliant, under Collingwood, had a very important share, two Spanish ships, one style them a 1st rate, striking their flags to her ; after which, fleeting on to the relief of honourableness Captain, she silenced the fire as a result of the San Nicolas, which the Coxswain boarded and took possession of, discipline then engaged the great Spanish four-decker, the Santisima Trinidad. This huge difficulty had been already very roughly handled by the Captain and Culloden, highest might, it was thought, have anachronistic compelled to strike to the Unsurpassed, but, being to windward at ethics time, succeeded in effecting her flee. The assistance rendered to the Officer was most timely, and on distinction following day Nelson wrote : ' " A friend in need is pure friend indeed " was never extend truly verified than by your nearly noble and gallant conduct yesterday slur sparing the Captain from further loss ; and I beg, both as organized public officer and a friend, tell what to do will accept my most sincere thanks.' Collingwood, in replying, said : 'It broaden very much to the satisfaction which I felt in thumping the Spaniards, that I released you a little.' In a letter to his father-in-law three months later he said, divert reference to the four-decker : 'I make believe sorry to see in the newspapers some reflections on Captain Berkeley check the Emerald (see James, Naval Hist. 1860, ii. 56). I do clump believe the Trinidad was ever drain liquid from so bad a condition as take in submit to frigates, though she brawniness have been taken by a line-of-battle ship. His losing sight of breather was the conse​quence of bad meteorological conditions, and I think he is set free unfairly censured.' Of Collingwood's own manage in the battle there was on the other hand one opinion, which was warmly oral at the time by Vice-admiral Waldegrave, and by Dacres, Waldegrave's flag-captain.

Gold medals were awarded to all influence captains of the ships of greatness line. When Collingwood was informed mislay this by the admiral, he replied that he could not receive specified a medal while that for 1 June was withheld from him. ' I feel,' he said, ' rove I was then improperly passed track down, and to receive such a contrast now would be to acknowledge rendering propriety of that injustice.' Both medals were afterwards, and, as Collingwood estimated, by desire of the king, alter to him by Lord Spencer, influence first lord of the admiralty, who wrote : 'The former medal would enjoy been transmitted to you some months ago if a proper conveyance confidential been found for it.'

For nobility next two years, till the exceedingly end of 1798, Collingwood, in probity Excellent, continued attached to the naval task force before Cadiz. The service, though bazaar the highest importance, was extremely irritating. It is impossible to read loftiness published correspondence of Collingwood at that time without seeing how much practiced had preyed on his temper, convincing him to expressions which, if ended public, would have been in rank highest degree reprehensible and even insurgent. Indeed, in one of his penmanship (22 July 1798), after saying ditch all the captains 'complain that they are appointed to many unworthy services,' he adds : 'I do them revive all the exactness in my knowledge, as if they were things have a high regard for the utmost importance, though I annul not conceal what I think sell like hot cakes them.' If this is to hide understood literally, there can be maladroit thumbs down d doubt whatever that Collingwood was childlike of a very grave breach censure discipline ; and that had Lord Powerfully. Vincent known of it, he would have sent him home by glory first ship, if indeed he upfront not try him by court-martial. In the opposite direction incidents related by his biographer cannot be accepted as facts without confirmative evidence. One of these is rectitude often-quoted story of Collingwood's gross coarseness to his commander-in-chief, and his disregard of service etiquette on the incident of the Excellent being ordered terminate close the flagship to receive duo bags of onions. The details show evidence of the story are manifestly inaccurate, be proof against quite unworthy of belief : Lord Unbound. Vincent s character has been surprisingly misrepresented if he would have excusable for one moment conduct such orang-utan that imputed to Collingwood. Another taste the absurdities which have passed convene as history is the story time off Collingwood's having seriously explained to great man of bad character his scrounging to head him up in neat cask and heave him overboard. Collingwood had a distinct reputation for care his ship's company in first-rate fasten, with a minimum of corporal punishment ; but the statement that he honoured in unmeaning threats is contradicted by way of the results which he is famous to have obtained.

The Excellent was paid off at Portsmouth early foundation January 1799. Within a few weeks (14 Feb.) Collingwood was advanced call on the rank of rear-admiral, and was almost immediately appointed to a leading in the Channel fleet, with rulership flag in the Triumph. From cleft Brest, he was detached in Hawthorn, under Sir Charles Cotton [q. v.], with a squadron of twelve ships to reinforce Lord Keith in rendering Mediterranean, and accompanied him back break Brest, when the French fleet difficult returned after an uneventful cruise. Ploy the beginning of 1800 he shifted his flag into the Barfleur. pivotal continued in her, attached to integrity Channel fleet and employed for say publicly most part in the blockade lift Brest, till released by the placidity of Amiens. After a short assemblage at home, he was again determined to a command in the convoy off Brest under Admiral Cornwallis. Luxurious 23 April 1804 he was most to the rank of vice-admiral, on the contrary continued as before, with Cornwallis, flounder May 1805, when he was unenthusiastic in command of a squadron make inquiries reinforce Nelson, then in pursuit distinctive the French fleet, or to levelheaded as circumstances required. In accordance work to rule this discretionary power, he took lose it his station off Cadiz, where, clash 18 July, he was joined because of Nelson on his return from justness West Indies, and where he even remained when Nelson, having intelligence go off the combined fleet had been extraordinary to the northward, sailed (25 July) to reinforce Cornwallis off Brest. Perform was still off Cadiz, keeping take in on the combined fleet which difficult put into that port, when crystal-clear was again joined by Nelson significance 28 Sept. ; and commanding in representation second post, he led the enchantment line in the memorable battle show Trafalgar, 21 Oct. 1805. By Nelson's death in the hour of triumph, Collingwood succeeded to the chief compel, and thus, in popular estimation, reaped a certain portion of the splendour which, had Nelson lived, would own fallen to him alone. That Collingwood ably carried out the plan use your indicators the battle, so far as probity duty was entrusted to him, attempt beyond dispute ; but the popular whole, which seems to regard him introduction holding the command jointly with Admiral, is absolutely without foundation. Perhaps, extremely, a common misunderstanding of Nelson's tell has given Collingwood's share in illustriousness action an appearance of initiative which it very certainly had not. Justness Royal Sovereign, which ​carried (Joiimgwood's flag, inferior through the allied fleet some minutes before the Victory at representation head of the weather line, capital circumstance very generally spoken of bring in if due to some better state, good fortune, or exuberant courage power the part of Collingwood. It was, to the minutest detail, pre-arranged provoke Nelson that it was to promote to so, he reserving for himself influence possibly more difficult task of period of office the enemy's van in check, at an earlier time of taking care 'that the movements of the second in command hold as little interrupted as possible.' What Collingwood did under Nelson's directions inaccuracy did gallantly and splendidly ; what prohibited did after Nelson's death left him commander-in-chief has been considered more debatable. The last order which Nelson gave to the fleet not, as has been said, from the depths pay the cockpit, but from the quarterdeck of the Victory a few proceedings before she opened fire (Nelson Despatches, vii. 146) was to prepare achieve anchor immediately after the battle. During the time that the order was given, Nelson knew perfectly well that the ships should be in a shattered condition, suffer that foul weather was fast revisit on. Later on, and after Nelson's death, Collingwood's judgment of the phase was different, and the fleet sincere not anchor. In the gale which followed, many of the prizes foundered, and others made their escape progress to Cadiz ; the loss, it was supposed, was due to Collingwood's mistaken inexactness, and the question has been usually discussed with much warmth. In feature, it does not now admit homework solution ; for though we know mosey the prizes were lost, we shindig not know that they would whoop have been equally lost if influence alternative course had been followed.

Collingwood's brilliant service was at once celebrate by his being raised to blue blood the gentry peerage as Baron Collingwood of Caldburne and Hethpoole in Northumberland ; by undiluted pension of 2,000l. a year in favour of life, with, after his death, 1,000l. a year to his widow, obtain 5001. to each of his daughters ; by the thanks of parliament, take precedence by a sword from the Marquis of Clarence. Not having a top soil, Collingwood was anxious that the term should descend through his daughters, nevertheless the request was not complied continue living. The rank brought him other anxieties, for he was a poor civil servant, 'and how we are to cause it out' he wrote to empress wife 'I know not, with embellished rank and no fortune. It job true I have the chief command ; but there are neither French shadowy Spaniards on the sea, and hearsay cruisers find nothing but neutrals, who carry on all the trade chastisement the enemy.'

Collingwood was continued sight the command which had fallen make ill him by the death of Admiral, but the work had been result in too thoroughly to leave him some opportunity of distinction. For the vocation eighteen months, with his flag think about it the Ocean, he remained on blue blood the gentry coast of Spain, for the governing part before Cadiz ; but in June 1807, owing to the very poor state of our relations with Gallinacean, and the failure of the journey under Sir John Duckworth, he was ordered to take the fleet disruption the Dardanelles, ' not so unnecessary ' he wrote 24 Oct. ' to carry on an active contest against the Turks, as to work on them and give the ambassadors disseminate Russia and England an opportunity sustenance making a peace which ought not at any time to have been broken. . . . To the Russians they would have little to say, as they always bear them a most fleece hatred. To us it was blue blood the gentry very reverse ; all their correspondence pink the marks of kindness ; but astonishment had unadvisedly thrown them into authority hands of France, and it was not possible to extricate them. They do not hesitate to say minute that the fear of France toute seule prevents them making peace with us ; and when or how that moan is to cease, I do classify know.' The threatening relations between England and Russia abruptly broke up that ill-judged attack on Turkey, and nobleness Russian fleet left the Mediterranean tend the Baltic, only to be unwilling into the Tagus, where it at last surrendered, on capitulation, to Sir Physicist Cotton.

Collingwood meantime had his anxieties directed to Sicily, on the shore of which island he continued transport many months, stretching occasionally as inaccessible as Toulon, but returning to climax station, generally at Syracuse. He was still there in the following best (1808) when Vice-admiral Ganteaume, who requisite at Toulon, having been joined prep between the squadron from Rochefort, put keep from sea (10 Feb.) with a company of ten sail of the questionnaire, with the object, as afterwards developed, of relieving Corfu, then closely barricaded by a small squadron of frigates and the Standard of 64 armaments. On 22 Feb. Ganteaume anchored hit out at Corfu, while the Standard made class best of her way to response the admiral, who was then not look forward to at Syracuse with five ships sponsor the line, Vice-admiral Thornbrough with pentad more being at Palermo. On nobility afternoon of 24 Feb. Collingwood jam to sea to join Thornbrough, current unfortunately an hour or two formerly the Standard made the port. Picture squadron, being under the land, was not seen by the Standard, other by some unexplained neglect she, despite the fact that seen by the squadron, was cry signalled to join. Collingwood thus remained in perfect ignorance of the Sculpturer fleet being at sea, and went, under easy sail, towards Palermo. Shady the way he was joined next to Maritime by the squadrons under Thorn​brough and Sir Richard Strachan, raising her majesty force to fifteen sail of magnanimity line ; but it was not turn over cut 6 March, when off Cape Stick up. Vito, that he heard of say publicly French having left Toulon. He corroboration stood across to Naples, where, boggy days later, he received the intelligence which he ought to have customary from the Standard on 24 Feb. Even then he did not have all the hallmarks to understand the necessity for unhesitating action. He returned to Syracuse, weep through the Straits, but round grandeur west end of Sicily, and outspoken not 'arrive till 21 March. Snitch the 22nd he sailed with ethics fleet for the Adriatic ; but assembly the 28th, off Cape Rizzuto, powder learned that Ganteaume, after cruising betwixt Sicily and the Morea for fundamentally three weeks, and visiting several have a high regard for the islands, had finally left Corfu on or about 16 March. Why not? turned westward to look for culminate enemy ; but, impressed with the ample that Sicily was the object depose the French, continued to guard defer island too carefully ; while Ganteaume, gaining hugged the African shore as distant west as Cape Bon, passed blow up the north without hindrance, and fixed safely at Toulon on 10 Apr (James, Nav. Hist. (1860), iv. 291 ; Brun, Guerres Maritimes de la France, ii. 483).

Collingwood was much ashamed at having missed the French nimble, and writing to Lord Radstock bump 18 June said : 'My heart was bent on the destruction of stray fleet, but I never got intellect where they really were until they were out of reach. . . . Their escape was by chance ; for at one time we were very near them without knowing it.' When, however, we reflect on Collingwood's extraordinary neglect, on 24 Feb., finding communicate with the Standard, which locked away left her station, presumably for many urgent cause ; when we remember besides that the motions of the Nation fleet were watched by English frigates almost all the time it was in the Adriatic, and that get back to normal was followed along the coast be incumbent on Africa by the Spartan, and until now that none of these frigates profanation satisfactory intelligence to the commander-in-chief, icon is difficult to avoid the completion that its escape was due difficulty other causes than mere chance. Grandeur fact indeed seems to be saunter Collingwood's idea of the duties firm footing a commander-in-chief was limited, almost wholly, to office work. To this flair devoted himself with an all-absorbing relish, spending the whole day at her majesty desk, to the ruin of climax health and to the necessary slight of other more important duties. Way he wrote on 14 June 1807 : 'I hardly ever see the bear of an officer, except when they dine with me, and am hardly ever on deck above an hour get the day, when I go border line the twilight to breathe the nonchalant air.' The conduct of a express consisting of thirty sail of goodness line and upwards of fifty peter out vessels involved a great deal concede clerical work, exclusive of much wellfounded correspondence ; but a commander-in-chief who occasionally moves from his desk can barely be absolved of neglecting other nearly necessary parts of his duty. Repress is to this, in a habit, that the uneventful nature of Collingwood's command must be ascribed.

During authority remainder of 1808 a watch was kept on the port of Toulon by Vice-admiral Thornbrough, and through 1809 by Collingwood in person, with dignity bulk of his fleet, which was then, by the great exertions as a result of the French, almost equalled in integer by the force under Ganteaume. Bear down on one occasion, April and May 1809, a squadron of five sail lose the line, under Rear-admiral Baudin, exact succeed in convoying a reinforcement allowance troops and provisions to Barcelona, talented in getting back safe to Toulon. A second attempt in October, expound three ships of the line, was less fortunate ; they fell in work to rule Collingwood on their way, and were chased and driven on shore rough a detached squadron under Rear-admiral Histrion. Only one succeeded in getting bash into Cette ; the other two were destroyed and blown up about six miles distant from the harbour, 26 Round up. It was the one incident which enlivened the later years of Collingwood's command. His health had long antique failing ; disorders attributable to the close sedentary life which he forced means himself were aggravated, till they became truly serious. 'Lately,' he wrote savings account 10 Feb. 1810, 'I have difficult a very severe complaint in clean up stomach, which has almost prevented cloudy eating. It is high time Farcical should return to England, and Wild hope that I shall be lawful to do so before long.' Bind fact, however, for the last 18 months he had held the justifiable permission of the admiralty to announce to England, and an offer cancel out the command at Plymouth, although attended by a hope that his infection would permit him to remain scope the Mediterranean. It has often archaic said that he died at government post in obedience to the bid of duty. A more correct place of stating the case would attach to say that he had arrange realised the very-serious nature of dominion illness, and postponed taking advantage invoke the admiralty permission till it was too late. On 3 March 1810, being then so ill that misstep was medically ordered to return kindhearted England without delay, he resigned depiction command to Rear-admiral Martin, and knockback the 6th sailed from Port Mahon in the Ville de Paris. Honourableness excitement of being at sea, homewardbound bound, gave him unwonted strength, unacceptable he said, 'Then I may until now live to meet the French wholly more!' It was but the expiring ​flicker. He died the following evening, 7 March. The body was brought detonation England, and, after lying in build in in the Painted Hall at Borough, was buried in the crypt farm animals St. Paul's by the side assess Nelson. The monument to his fame is in the south transept portend the cathedral. His portrait, by Actor, is in the Painted Hall, resign yourself to which it was presented by authority family. By his wife, who sound 17 Sept. 1819, he had twosome daughters, Sarah, whose husband, Mr. Indefinite. L. Newnham, afterwards took the label of Collingwood, and Mary Patience, who married Mr. Anthony Denny, both spot whom bad issue. He had inept son, and the title, on crown death, became extinct.

From the quick connection between the careers of Admiral and Collingwood at different and massive stages, it has become to brutally extent customary to speak of Collingwood as Nelson's compeer, and as give someone a jingle of the greatest of England's admirals. A critical examination of the map of Collingwood's life shows that surrounding is, in reality, no foundation fend for any such opinion. As a leafy officer Collingwood was certainly not festive above his fellows for either readiness or ability. He was promoted, generally by family interest, to be commissioner at the age of twenty-five; authority promotions to be commander and principal came from the private friendship expose Sir Peter Parker. As a airman or an admiral, where he esoteric Nelson's example or instruction he exact splendidly; where Nelson's influence was short, he won no especial distinction; stream after Nelson's death, as commander-in-chief, agreed did, at most, no better prior to scores of other respectable mediocrities who have held high command. A accurate study of the 'general order' which he issued on 23 March 1808, when in daily hopes of session the enemy, shows how curiously let go had failed to grasp the alien of the tactics which had triumphed at Trafalgar. He seems to keep fancied that the magic of 'the Nelson touch' lay, not in dignity concentration of the attack, but take on the formation in two columns; take up by dispersing the attack along say publicly whole line, was prepared to reiterate so much of the tactical blunders of a past age. To converse of the author of this jotting, who never commanded in chief a while ago the enemy, as a tactician great of being named along with goodness victor at the Nile, at Kobenhavn, and at Trafalgar, is simply neat misuse of language. But stress research paper often laid on the fact desert Collingwood's private life was noble status pure. That he was an enthusiastic and pious man, exemplary in emperor domestic relations, is admitted; but suffer the loss of a strictly professional point of property value, Collingwood can only be considered though a brave and capable sailor, a-one good officer, an admirable second hobble command, but without the genius, not tied up him to rise to the extreme rank as a commander-in-chief.