Cuthbert Collingwood
(1748-1810)Cuthbert Collingwood was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1748 and died on Ville de Paris on 7 Mar 1810. He served in the Royal Navy. He married Sarah Blackett on 16 Jun 1791. He received the title of Baron Collingwood on 20 Nov 1805. Ranks: Entered Navy (1761)
Capt (1780)
RAdm W (1799)
RAdm R (1801)
VAdm B (1804)
VAdm R (1805)
Ship Ranks: Vice Admiral (Blue) on the Dreadnought
Captain on the Prince from 11 Mar 1793 to Jan 1794
Captain on the Barfleur from Jan 1794 to 13 Jul 1794
Captain on the Excellent from 5 Dec 1794 to 14 Jan 1799
He appears as a character in the books "Ramage at Trafalgar" (Dudley Pope), "1805" (Richard Woodman), "Hornblower and the Atropos" (C.S. Forester) and "Sails on the Horizon" (Jay Worrall). Notes: Elder brother of Wilfred Collingwood. Cousin of Richard Brathwaite.
• As Captain of Barfleur, 98 (Flag - Rear-Admiral [White] George Bowyer), he took part in the Glorious First of June (1794).
• As Captain of Excellent, 74, he took part in the Battle of Cape St. Vincent (14 Feb 1797).
• Promoted directly to Rear-Admiral of the White from Post Captain
• As Vice-Admiral on board of Royal Sovereign, 100 (Captain Edward Rotheram), he was second in command of the British fleet during the Battle of Trafalgar (21 Oct 1805).
• C-in-C Mediterranean (1805–1810)
• Promoted directly to Vice-Admiral of the Red from Vice-Admiral of the Blue
"At the time I write of, Lord Collingwood was between fifty and sixty, thin and spare in person, which was then slightly bent, and in height about five feet ten inches. His head was small, with a pale, smooth round face, the features of which would pass without notice, were it not for the eyes, which were blue, clear, and penetrating; and the mouth, the lips of which were thin and compressed, indicating firmness and decision of character. He wore his hair powdered, and tied in a queue, in the style of officers of his age at that time; and his clothes were squared and fashioned after the strictest rules of the good old sea school. To his very ample coat, which had a stiff, stand-up collar, were appended broad and very long skirts—the deep flaps of his single-breasted white waistcoat, descending far below his middle, covered a portion of his thighs; and blue knee breeches, with white stockings, and buckles to his shoes, completed his attire." — Abraham Crawford (Reminiscences of a Naval Officer, during the Late War with Sketches and Anecdotes of Distinguished Commanders) Further Reading: Adams, Max. 2005. Admiral Collingwood: Nelson's Own Hero. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson.
Davies, William. 1875. A Fine Old English Gentleman, Exemplified in the Life and Character of Lord Collingwood. London: Sampson, Low, Marston and Searle.
Russell, William Clark. 1891. Collingwood. London: Methuen & Co.
Warner, Oliver. 1968. The Life and Letters of Vice-Admiral Lord Collingwood. London: Oxford University Press. |
