Vice-Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood

Vice-Admiral of the Red Cuthbert Collingwood, 1st Baron Collingwood (26 September 1748 – 7 March 1810) was a Royal Navy officer who served in the American War of Independence and French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Born in Newcastle upon Tyne, he joined the British navy at a young age and was promoted to lieutenant during the American War of Independence, where he led a naval brigade at the Battle of Bunker Hill. In the 1780s and 1790s Collingwood participated in the French Revolutionary Wars, during which time he captained several ships and reached the rank of post-captain. He took part in several key naval battles of the time, including the Glorious First of June and the Battle of Cape St. Vincent. In 1799, he was promoted to rear-admiral and later vice-admiral, where he undertook a variety of command roles during the Napoleonic Wars, including serving as second in command of the British Fleet under Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar. Following Nelson's death, Collingwood became commander-in-chief of the Mediterranean Fleet. He remained in post despite worsening health for several years and after finally being allowed to resign, he would die a day later at sea on the journey back to England. Collingwood was a respected admiral during the days of sail and notable as a friend and partner with Vice-Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson in several of the British victories of the Napoleonic Wars as well as Nelson's successor in several Royal Navy commands.