COLLINGWOOD. 59 



12. CUTHBERT COLLINGWOOD. 



CUTHBERT COLLINGWOOD (Lord Collingwood), was born at Newcastle-on-Tyne, 

 in September 1750. He was put on board the Shannon at the age of 11 years, 

 under command of an uncle, Captain (after Admiral) Brathwaite. He gained his 

 lieutenancy in the naval brigade at Boston, 1775, and four years later was made 

 commander. From the age of 32 he was associated with Nelson until the latter's 

 death, and frequently succeeded the older man when promotions occurred. In 

 1783 he, with Nelson, commanded at the West Indies to prevent the United States 

 from trading there. As captain of the Barfleur he displayed judgment and courage 

 in the naval battle of June 1, 1794, and on February 14, 1797, under Sir John 

 Jervis, he assisted in defeating the Spanish fleet off Cape St. Vincent, and gained 

 great fame in the battle by his vigorous support of Nelson at a time when the 

 latter was suffering for his bold but hazardous stroke. As vice admiral he was 

 sent in 1799 to watch the naval forces of France and Spain in the Mediterranean, 

 and in 1803 he watched the French fleet off Brest and later at Cadiz. It was off 

 the latter port that the battle of Trafalgar was fought, and here, as leader of the 

 first attacking column, while Nelson led the second, Collingwood showed consum- 

 mate valor and skill while his great flagship was shot almost to pieces. Trafalgar 

 was won, but Nelson was killed and Collingwood took his place. He was raised to 

 the peerage. He fought no more naval battles, but was constantly employed in 

 cruises that involved good sense and political sagacity until he died at sea, 1810. 



Collingwood was of the hypokinetic type. His father was a merchant who 

 was rather ineffective. As a lad Collingwood was diligent at school, was fond of 

 books, and exhibited then, as he always retained, the art of writing with a "polish, 

 a sweetness of language and archness of humor, very close to some of the happiest 

 compositions of Addison." At school he was a mild boy and showed no brilliant 

 talents. He was reserved from boyhood; he was considered cold in his bearing, 

 rather inaccessible, firm, and resolute. He lacked Nelson's sociable qualities. 

 He would have silent moods when he would not speak a word for a day. However, 

 at times he showed temper; but he was never known to swear or otherwise forget 

 himself in his anger. 



Collingwood's great strength lay in his thoroughness, good judgment, attach- 

 ment to reality, self-reliance, and pertinacity. His thoroughness and good judg- 

 ment made him invaluable in blockade and in watching the enemy's ships. "He 

 deliberated carefully, weighing every contingency which his sagacity and fore- 

 thought presented to him, and never overlooked anything of importance which it 

 was possible for him to foresee." "His decisions were . . . reached by thoughtful 

 processes. . . . His resolutions formed, they were as good as accomplished; he 

 dispensed with self-questionings, and never flinched a hair's breadth from carry- 

 ing them out." "His resolution was adamant; so that whoever came into close 

 opposition to it must give way or be crushed. . . . His determination to be 

 obeyed was absolute; disobedience meant destruction. Yet he rarely flogged, but 

 preferred as punishment watering the grog and extra duty." He was always 

 perfectly dignified in his deportment and constantly attended to his religious 

 duties. Yet he was not without features of the hyperkinetic; was fond of society, 

 joked in a quiet way, mostly by puns, and interspersed his conversation with 

 humorous remarks and anecdotes. In the battle of Trafalgar his flagship pene- 

 trated into the very center of the enemy's fleet and almost alone finished the Santa 



