Historical
characters
featured in the novels
featured in the novels
AmericanArnold, Benedict Perhaps the most famous traitor in history. Negotiated with the British to surrender West Point, the major rebel stronghold on the Hudson, but, the plot being discovered through the capture of Major Andr‚, is forced to escape to the British lines. (The Guernseyman). Later Arnold,who is said to have been offered ś10,000 for his treachery and to have received ś6,000, and is considered by some the best general on either side, successfully commands Loyalist troops in Virginia.
Travell, Major Samuel P. Major in the American artillery who disables the guns of the Charleston forts, enabling the British fleet to sail into the harbour and force the surrender of the town. Is made a Lieutenant Colonel in the British Army, but remains a passenger on board Falcon, neither side trusting him. He tells the Falcon's officers of his admiration for Benedict Arnold, without naming him, and of his conviction that the rebels must lose the war. Kills himself on being rejected, for his treachery, by his fianc‚e. (The Guernseyman)
BritishAbercromby, General Sir Ralph commands the expeditionary force that is landed by Keith's fleet in Egypt in 1801, and that meets and defeats the French army that had been there since 1798.
Addington
Andre, Major An aide-de-camp to General Clinton, the British commander in New York in 1780, is sent secretly to meet with Benedict Arnold to arrange the surrender of West Point. He is captured on the mission, which therefore fails, and is eventually hanged as a spy after Washington's attempts to exchange him for Arnold are refused. (The Guernseyman)
Atcherley, James Captain, R.M., leads boarding party which takes Villeneuve's surrender in Bucentaure at Trafalgar (1805)
Ball, Captain commands the squadron blockading Malta in 1799 after the Nile. After the island finally surrenders in September 1800, becomes its first British Governor.
Barham, Admiral Lord replaces Melville as 1st Lord in 1805.
Beaver, Captain Philip Keith's captain of the fleet in the Mediterranean in at the turn of the century. Is responsible for planning the successful 320-craft "conjunct" operation which on 8 February 1801, in an opposed landing, puts ashore 16,000 British troops in Egypt, where they meet and defeat the occupying French army, the French finally surrendering at Alexandria in September. This was the first time in the war that a British army had defeated a French one.
Bickerton, Admiral left in command of ships remaining in Western Mediterranean after Villeneuve's escape to the West Indies, and Nelson's departure after him. Falls ill and returns home before Trafalgar. His ships join Collingwood off Cadiz.
Blackwood, the Hon. Henry captain, R.N., commanding Euryalus, which takes the news of Villeneuve's arrival in Cadiz back to England. On returning he has orders reassigning Antigone to Gibraltar. (1805).
Bligh, Captain William famous of course for being in command of Bounty in 1789 when the crew mutinies under Fletcher Henderson, and for his miraculous open-boat voyage after being set adrift by the mutineers.
Nevertheless a more than competent captain who is at Copenhagen ('Inshore Squadron', 'The Bomb Vessel'). Less fortunately, he is given the impossible task as Commodore of attempting to take Curacao in 1804 ('Mr. Fitton's Commission'), and is involved in the controversial action at the Basque Roads, giving evidence in his commander, Lord Gambier's, favour at the subsequent court-martial.
Bowen, Captain Sir Richard Commands the frigate Terpsichore (32) at St Vincent; after the battle takes on the damaged 136-gun Santissima Trinidad, but is forced to break off the action when the rest of the Spanish fleet comes up. Has he succeeded may well have become as big a hero as Nelson, who first won national fame in the same battle.
Shortly after is killed outright in the attempt to capture Santa Cruz, the engagement in which Nelson loses an arm.
Brenton, Captain Saumarez' flag captain in Caesar in Gibraltar and off Cadiz in 1801. Masterminds the extraordinary feat by which the heavy damage to Caesar inflicted at Algeciras Bay is repaired in time for her to sail to meet the emerging allied fleet a week later.
Bridport, Lord see Hood, Sir Alexander.
Calder, Admiral Sir Robert with Jervis at St. Vincent; carries home the despatches with news of the battle and is knighted.
Blockades French and Spanish fleets in Ferrol before Trafalgar. Sent to intercept Villeneuve's fleet returning from the West Indies, and does so off Finisterre. Called home to stand trial for his failure to destroy the enemy fleet, and misses Trafalgar.
Calvert, Captain Anthony Elder Brother of Trinity House who takes the young Drinkwater under his wing in 'An Eye of the Fleet' and gives him his navigational certificate that qualifies him as master's mate.
Camelford, Lord as Lieutenant Pitt, left ashore in Hawaii in 1794 for insubordination, and court-martialled but acquitted in 1798 for killing Lieutenant Peterson of the Perdrix. Sometime midshipman in Guardian (Riou) when struck by iceberg in the Antarctic. Later agent in France, allegedly assassin sent to kill Napoleon (1805). Killed in duel in 1804.
Chatham, Earl of Brother of William Pitt the Younger (son of the Elder) and 1st Lord under him at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War until 1794.
Christian, Captain Howe's flag-captain commanding the Channel Fleet in 1793.
Cochrane, Captain the Hon. Alexander (la The admitted model for Jack Aubrey and to some extent for Hornblower. Comes to history's attention by being one of the team, with Beaver, that plans and implements the landing of 16,000 British troops in Egypt in 1801.
Later becomes especially famous for his exploits harassing French shipping off the Catalan coast in 1809 in Imp‚rieuse. Is referred to in many of the books as the exemplar of the dashing frigate captain.
Collingwood, Lieutenant Wilfrid Befriends the young Drinkwater in 'An Eye of the Fleet', and has a generally good reputation as a 'new kind' of naval officer. The consumptive brother of the famous admiral, he died before the outbreak of the Napoleonic Wars.
Collingwood, Vice-Admiral commander of blockading squadron off Brittany, later, in run-up to Trafalgar sent off Cadiz. Second-in.command to Nelson at Trafalgar and is raised to peerage after the battle.
Colpoys, Admiral Sir John Commander of the offshore squadron (flagship London) off Brest in 1797 which fails to make rendezvous with Bridport's fleet and allows the French to sail through to Ireland to support the Wolfe Tone rebellion, and to return safely after the rebellion fails.
Later in the year is at Spithead during the mutiny, gaining notoriety for his orders to the officers to open fire on the mutineers. Both events are commemorated in the ballad;
"The murdering Colpoys, Vice-Admiral of the Blue,After the mutiny, never goes to sea again, though knighted in 1798 and made C.-in-C. Plymouth in 1803.
Gave order to fire on the London's crew;
While the enemy of Britain was ploughing the sea,
He, like a base coward, let them get away
When the French and their transports sailed for Bantry Bay."
Cornwallis, Admiral Sir William commander of Channel Fleet, 1800-
Cotton, Rear-Admiral Sir Charles is commanding a squadron of the Channel Fleet in 1799 when he is sent with twelve of the line to reinforce St. Vincent in the Mediterranean against the threat posed by Bruix's fleet that has escaped from Brest.
Curtis, Admiral Sir Roger As a post-captain commanding Brilliant, is senior naval officer at Gibraltar when Delancey is discharged from hospital in 1785. Points out that Delancey has now enough time in the service to take the lieutenant's examination. Rates him master's mate in Brilliant to take a lieutenant's vacancy.Is knighted after the siege of Gibraltar. (The Guernseyman)
Is appointed Captain of the Channel Fleet under Howe on the outbreak of war in 1793 and Commands a squadron in the western approaches at the time of the Wolfe Tone rebellion, 1797.
As rear-admiral in the spring of 1798 is upset at Nelson being preferred to him to command the squadron being sent into the Mediterranean (and ultimately to the Nile).
Duckworth, Commodore is naval commander of the expedition that takes Minorca in November 1798. Remains there through the skirmishings of 1799.
Duncan, Admiral Adam Rodney's vice-admiral at the Moonlight Battle in 1780.
Is given command of the new North Sea Fleet when Holland allies with France in 1795, responsible for blockading the Texel. During the Nore mutiny is forced to maintain the blockade with only two ships, Venerable (74) and Adamant (50), but succeeds by flying false signals into deceiving the Dutch that the blockade is still in place.
In October 1797 manages to intercept the Dutch fleet at sea, and brings it to action at Camperdown, one of the bloodiest engagements of the wars, which virtually annihilated the Dutch fleet. Duncan later completes the annihilation by landing troops at the Helder in 1799; the remaining Dutch ships surrender without firing a shot.
Retires shortly afterwards in 1800.
Dundas, Heneage is a guest at Lady Keith's ball in Mayfair; has just been made post in Franchise. Later is Maturin's second in the proposed duel with Aubrey. (Post Captain)
Dundas, Henry (Lord Melville) Secretary of War under Pitt at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War.
In the spring of 1798 is the only person to believe that the French army building up at Toulon may be intended for Egypt; sends a warning to Arthur Wellesley in India.
Raised to the peerage and made 1st Lord by Pitt in 1803 to replace St Vincent. Favours Aubrey (also a Tory) and makes him post in 1804 (Post Captain). Impeached in 1805.
Edgecumbe, Captain Sir James Captain of the frigate Galatea, he puts his parliamentary career - and his comfort - ahead of his naval duties. Despised by all and sundry. An Eye of the Fleet
Eliott, General Commander at Gibraltar during the siege of 1782. (The Guernseyman)
Fairfax, Captain plays a distinguished part at Camperdown, and is knighted for it.
Gambier, Admiral commands the British fleet which takes the entire Danish fleet in 1807.
Gardner, Rear-Admiral Alan appointed to command the West Indies fleet in 1793.
Commanded the second division of the central squadron at the Glorious First of June.
During negotiations over the mutiny at Spithead, famous for losing his temper; "I'll hang every fifth man in the fleet', which did not help. At the time is second-in-command to Lord Bridport; when Bridport is forced to strike his flag in April 1800, expects to be given command. When it goes instead to St Vincent he protests vigorously and is eventually sent to take over command in Ireland.
General Sir Charles In command of land forces in the West Indies from 1793, capturing Martinique, St. Lucia and Guadeloupe.
Graves, Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas commander of the van squadron at the Glorious First of June.
Commander of a division of the North Sea Fleet at Copenhagen (The Bomb Vessel). Later commander of division of Cornwallis' Channel Fleet to which Drinkwater is attached (1805).
Grenville, William Foreign Secretary under Pitt at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War.
Hardy, Captain Nelson's flag captain at Copenhagen (in St George) and Trafalgar (n Victory). Joins Drinkwater in a small boat buoying the channels at Copenhagen.
Harte, Admiral Captain commanding Port Mahon, Majorca, when Aubrey gets his first command. Aubrey has an affair with his wife (Master & Commander) which has deleterious effects on his career.
Hood, (Samuel), Admiral the Viscount b. 1723. 1st Sea Lord on the outbreak of the Revolutionary War in 1793, but shortly after appointed to command the Mediterranean Fleet. Takes possession of Toulon in August but shortly after is forced to evacuate (at this time Napoleon makes his first significant appearance) destroying 9 and capturing 5 ships of the line. Then takes Corsica - lost again in 1796, when with the Dutch and Spanish allying with the French, Britain can no longer keep a fleet in the Mediterranean. In 1794, after complaining bitterly to the Admiralty about the priority given to the Channel Fleet is forced to strike his flag.
Hood, Admiral Sir Alexander (Lord Bridport) b. 1726. Commander of the rear squadron at the Glorious First of June. Second in command of the Channel Fleet under Howe, 1793-4, when he takes over command from Howe. In 1797 when the French fleet sails to support the Wolfe Tone rebellion in Ireland is at home in Somerset; it takes him two days to reach Portsmouth. The departure of the fleet is mismanaged and for two days only nine sail manage to put to sea. By the time the whole fleet is at sea, the French expeditionary force is already back from Ireland.
Later in the same year is unable to handle the mutineers at Spithead, and Howe is temporarily recalled.
In April 1799 allows Bruix to escape from Brest with 25 of the line on a mission to rescue Napoleon in Egypt, and threatening the newly re-established British presence in the Mediterranean.
Under him the Channel Fleet almost fell apart; luckily during his command the focus of activity was in the Mediterranean (St. Vincent, then Keith) and the North Sea (Duncan) He was finally ordered to strike his flag in April 1800. At the time Edward Pellew wrote; "I believe there never was a Man so universally despised by the whole Service. A mixture of Ignorance, avarice and spleen.' King George III wrote more politely; "With infinite satisfaction I learn from Earl Spencer that Lord Bridport has resigned the command of the Channel Fleet...."
Notorious for his inability to enforce discipline (in stark contrast to St Vincent in the Mediterranean), he made no comment when a guest at his dinner table called for a toast; "May the discipline of the Mediterranean never be introduced into the Channel Fleet.
St Vincent succeeded him in command.
Hotham, Vice-Admiral b. 1735. Second in command of the Mediterranean Fleet under Hood, 1793-4, when takes over command from Hood.
Howe, Richard, Admiral the Earl ('Black Dick') b. 1725. Son of an illegitimate daughter of George I and therefore an acknowledged cousin of George III. He benefited from the subsequent patronage, but his talents justified his appointments. Is British naval commander in New York when Delancey is there. in 1782. Leads the convoy which relieves the siege of Gibraltar (The Guernseyman).
1st Lord 1783-88. Appointed to command the Channel Fleet on the outbreak of war in 1793 until late 1794. With 26 ships intercepted a French fleet of 25 under the command of Villaret-Joyeause in May 1794, and brought it to action in the battle of the Glorious First of June (actually two battles, one on 29 May and one on 1 June), taking 8 prizes and sinking one.
In 1797 is recalled to command the fleet during the Spithead Mutiny, and is primarily responsible for settling it.
Jervis, Sir John see St Vincent, Admiral Lord.
Keats, Captain As a frigate commander, is instrumental in locating and shadowing the French forces attempting to invade Ireland in 1798.
Is the first to congratulate Aubrey in Minorca after his taking of Cacafuego. Lends his boatswain and severalof his crew to help repair Sophie. (Master & Commander)
Later commands the 74-gun Superb, which wins distinction by taking on two Spanish first-rates, Real Carlos and Hermenegildo in the fleet action off Gibraltar in 1801, sailing between them in the dark, and after firing a double broadside, sailing on leaving them firingat each other; both burned and blew up. She then sailed on to take the San Antonio (as O'Brien has it) or Sainte Antoine (as Parkinson has it).
Keith, Admiral Lord (formerly Elphinstone) Distinguishes himself in the War of Independence. Second in command of the Mediterranean fleet under St Vincent from 1797, and when the fleet re-enters the Mediterranean in 1798 after the Nile is placed in command of the Cadiz blockade, St. Vincent moving his headquarters to Gibraltar.
Is blockading Cadiz when Bruix escapes from Brest into the Mediterranean in 1799. Is ordered by St Vincent to bring his fleet into the Mediterranean to help against Bruix; in June 1799 takes over command of the Mediterranean Fleet when St. Vincent falls ill.
In February 1800 takes personal command of the blockade of Malta, with Nelson as second-in-command. Malta finally surrenders in September.
In 1800 at Minorca appoints Aubrey to his first command (Master & Commander).
In 1801 commands the naval forces that land Abercromby's army in Egypt. An opposed landing, this is still an amphibious action with few parallels in history; the fleet consisted of 22 ships of the line, 37 frigates and sloops, and 80 transports with 18,000 soldiers. With other small vessels and boats, there were 320 craft involved in the landing, which was planned by Keith's Captain of the Fleet, Captain Beaver.
Later commands fleet off Dover patrolling French coast against invasion. (several books)
Keith, Lady ('Queeny') Boyhood friend of Jack Aubrey who marries Admiral Keith, and is of great help to Aubrey throughout. Aubrey and Maturin are guests at her Mayfair ball. (Post Captain)
Kingsmill, Vice-Admiral Flag officer at Corke at the time of the Wolfe Tone rebellion; his ships do what little damage is done to the French supporting fleet. Is replaced by Gardner in 1800, mostly because of the need to do something with Gardner, who has violently protested against being passed over for command of the Channel Fleet.
Knight, Rear-Admiral Sir John commands convoy of British troops from Lisbon for the Mediterranean, to which Drinkwater is attached. Becomes port admiral in Gibraltar, where Drinkwater joins his squadron.
Louis, Rear-Admiral Second-in-command to Lord Keith off Dover. Later joins Nelson off Cadiz, but is sent to Gibraltar with Drinkwater in his fleet..
Mackenzie, Colin Alexander British agent in East Europe in 1807. Believed to be the agent who actually brought the news of the Treaty of Tilsit to London. In Baltic Mission he leads Drinkwater and his brother on the expdition to spy on the conference where the treaty is agreed.
Markham 2nd Sea Lord under St Vincent
Melville, Lord see Dundas, Henry.
Morris, Lieutenant Amherst Serving in Nymphe when she took La Cleopatre in the first equal ship-to-ship of the Revolutionary / Napoleonic wars. Took the surrender of the ship after boarding.
Nelson, Lord Horatio 1758-1805. Britain's greatest naval hero and needing no introduction. Briefly reviewing his career in the period;
A post-captain (he was posted at 21 thanks to influence) he was placed in command of Agamemnon (64) at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, and sent to the Mediterranean under Howe and then Hotham. In an engagement under Hotham is largely responsible for the taking of €a Ira (80) and Censeur (74). Shifting to Minerve as Commodore, he takes the Spanish frigate Sabina.
In 1796 is instrumental in securing a successful conclusion to Ramage's court martial at Bastia (Ramage). Around the same time he sails in Minerve through the entire Spanish fleet without being taken.
At the Battle of St Vincent in 1797 commands Captain (74) in the rear division. Assisted by Excellent, he leaves the line to throw his ship across Santissima Trinidad (136 - the largest ship in the world) and two other three-deckers, taking personally San Nicolas (80) and San Josef (114). Santissima Trinidad is also taken, but is recovered by the Spaniards. This action makes Nelson, who leads the boarding parties himself, a knight and a national hero. Assistance from Ramage in Kathleen is recorded by Dudley Pope (Ramage ) but not by history.
Later in 1797, now a Rear-Admiral in the ordinary course of promotion, leads a squadron attempting to capture Santa Cruz, Tenerife, which fails; he loses his arm.
In the spring of 1798 is sent into the Mediterranean by St Vincent on a reconnoitring expedition with Vanguard, two more of the line and two frigates. In June he is reinforced by Troubridge with ten more ships of the line, discovers that the French have taken Malta and had sailed again. He guesses (!) they are going to Egypt and heads for Alexandria. The frigates having been forced by a gale to put back to Gibraltar, his only scouting vessel is the sloop Mutine, which arrives at Alexandria on 28 June, and discovers no French presence. Mutine reports back, and Nelson fruitlessly searches the Eastern Mediterranean looking for the French (who arrived at Alexandria on 29 June). At the end of July he makes his way back to Egypt and discovers the French fleet at anchor in Aboukir Bay. The fleets are equally matched (at thirteen of the line each this is in numeric terms the smallest of the major naval battles of the war), and Nelson adds to his legend, not only by winning again, but by doing so in two almost unheard-of ways; launching the attack at night, and sending part of his fleet inshore of the anchored French, to engage them on both beams
After the battle takes Vanguard for repairs to Naples, where he meets Lady Hamilton, and on to Palermo in 1799.
In 1800 is second-in-command under Keith in the blockade of Malta. Ships of his squadron play a major part in fending off French supply attempts, and in taking the last survivors of the Nile, G‚n‚reux and Guillaume Tell. Shortly after is ill, strikes his flag and goes home to England (with the Hamiltons).
Second in command and commanding active division at Copenhagen in 1801, where he refuses to see AdmiralSir Hyde Parker's signal to disengage, the famous "blind eye" incident.
Onslow, Vice-Admiral Sir Richard commands the reas division at Camperdown, and is made a baronet for his part in the action.
Orde, Admiral Sir John as rear-admiral is with St Vincent off Cadiz when he sends Nelson into the Mediterranean in April 1798. He complains so much about the junior Nelson being selected that St Vincent sends him home.
commanding squadron off Cadiz in run-up to Trafalgar.
Parker, Admiral Sir Hyde as Vice-Admiral, is briefly in command of Mediterranean fleet in 1795.
In command at Jamaica, 1796-1800
Admiral-in-chief, North Sea Fleet at Copenhagen. Gave the signal to disengage that Nelson famously refused to see. Promotes Drinkwater to Master and Commander after battle (The Bomb Vessel).
Parker, Admiral Sir William With Jervis at St Vincent; made a baronet after the battle.
Parker, Lady (nee Frances Onslow) marries Admiral Sir Hyde Parker and befriends Drinkwater in The Bomb Vessel
Pasley, Rear-Admiral commander of the second division of the van squadron at the Glorious First of June.
Pellew, Captain Edward (later Sir) commanded Nymphe, 36, when she took La Cleopatre, 40, in the first equal ship-to-ship action of the Revolutionary / Napoleonic wars (19 June 1793). Knighted for that action ten days later.
Commander (flagship Indefatigable) of the inshore squadron of frigates off Brest, 1794-7. In the aftermath of the abortive Wolfe Tone rebellion in Ireland, meets (in company with Amazon) the ship of the line Droits de l'Homme on her way home from Ireland, and forces her into being wrecked on the French coast. A famous action (Hornblower is aboard as lieutenant) which is referred to in many of the books.
Earlier Hornblower and Ramage both served as midshipmen in her.
Poulter, Captain John Captain of the Trinity House yacht in which the young Drinkwater serves for a while in 'An Eye of the Fleet'.
Reynolds, Captain Commanded Amazon when in 1796 in company with Indefatigable they together forced the French line-of-battle ship Droits de l'Homme to be wrecked near Brest, in one of the most celebrated small actions of the war.
Richmond, Duke of Master-General of the Ordnance under Pitt at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War.
Riou, Captain Edward in command of the second Amazon led the British frigates at Copenhagen, and was responsible for buoying channels there. Killed during the action.
Celebrated for saving Guardian after hitting an iceberg in the Antarctic in 1791.
Rodney (George) , Admiral the Earl Living in Paris when the American War broke out, was lent money by a French nobleman to enable him to return to England.
Sent with a fleet to the West Indies in 1780, winnng the dramatic Moonlight Battle on the way, but sickness forces him to hand over command to Hood, and is not on station during the incompetent displays that surrounded the fall of Yorktown.
Returns to health and the West Indies too late to affect the war in North America, but destroy the French fleet in the Caribbean at the Battle of the Saintes in 1782, preserving the West Indian colonies.
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Saumarez, Admiral Sir James Guernsey born and a patron of Delancey on several occasions. As a post-captain is at the Nile, and commands the squadron that takes the French prizes back to England.
In command at Gibraltar for the unsuccessful action in Algeciras Bay, and the subsequent action between Gibraltar and Cadiz that to some extent made up for it. (Master & Commander)
Senior officer at St Helena when Hornblower returns from the Pacific in 1810, and arranges for Lady Barbara to return to England from there in an Indiaman, the Hanbury Castle, with Lord and Lady Manningtree. (The Happy Return)
Smith, Commodore Sir Sidney Commands the two-ship squadron, Tigre (the flagship) and Theseus, both 74s, that helps the Turks defend Acre in 1799, preventing Napoleon from leading his Egyptian army home overland through Syria. Is still in the East during the skirmishing of 1799.
Is one of the team, with Beaver, that plans and implements the landing of 16,000 British troops in Egypt in 1801.
Spencer, Earl Appointed 1st Lord to succeed Chatham in 1794 as one of the Whigs that joined the government at that time. Handled the Spithead mutiny with some skill, but was less successful at the Nore.
St. Vincent, Admiral Earl (John Jervis) At the outbreak of war in 1793 commands the West Indies Fleet, and, with General Grey, captures Martinique, St. Lucia and Guadeloupe (later retaken by the French). Given command of Mediterranean Fleet, 1795-6 (flagship Victory). Spain's alliance with France in 1796 forces him out of the Mediterranean to a base in Lisbon. Britain no longer has a Mediterranean Fleet. However, Jervis's rebuilding of morale and discipline in the fleet transformed it as a fighting force. Probably the most respected and admired British admiral before Nelson; Nelson, who served in his Mediterranean Fleet, himself wrote "...of all the fleets I ever saw, I never beheld one in point of officers and men equal to Sir John Jervis's, who is a commander-in-chief able to lead them to glory".
In 1797, with 15 sail of the line, brings to action the Spanish fleet, nominally of 27 (though 3 were in harbour and 5 detached as convoy escorts), off Cape St Vincent, the action in which Nelson first becomes a national hero. Four Spanish ships are taken and the rest severely damaged and forced back into Cadiz in the action that gained Jervis his earldom.
In April 1798, off Cadiz, is informed by the Admiralty that a French fleet with troops and a great deal of armament, is building up at Toulon, probably aimed at Naples or the Spanish coast (actually, it was heading, with Napoleon, for Egypt, but this possibility, while mooted, was never taken seriously by anyone at the time, though Dundas did send a warning to Wellesley in India). He was instructed either to take his whole fleet into the Mediterranean, or else to send a detachment, the Admiralty thinking "it almost unnecessary to suggest to you the propriety of putting it under the command os Sir H. Nelson'.
St Vincent sends Nelson with three ships to reconnoitre; after receiving reinforcements from the Channel Fleet, he sends Troubridge with ten more ships to join him. After the resulting battle of the Nile, places Nelson in overall command of the eastern Mediterranean, retaining the western part to himself, shifting his headquarters to Gibraltar, and deputing the blockade of Cadiz to Lord Keith. Later in 1798 organises the taking of Minorca by Commodore Duckworth and General Stuart.
In 1799 is confronted by the need to contain the fleet led by Bruix into the Mediterranean, and especially to stop it joining up with the Spanish fleet (see the "Battle that never was"). In June, before the situation is resolved, falls ill and hands over command in the Mediterranean to Lord Keith.
In April 1800 takes over command of the Channel Fleet from the ineffectual Lord Bridport. Generally tightens up discipline, and increases the effectiveness of the French blockade.
Is First Sea Lord, February 1801-1803 , in Addington's Whig administration, making valiant attempts to stop corruption in private shipbuilding yards and even attempting to ensure that all ships were built in the naval dockyards (against vigorous opposition from Pitt and the Tories).
While First Sea Lord, is infuriated by Aubrey's attitude when Aubrey asks him for a ship; apart from anything else, Aubrey's father is a notorious Tory and critic of the government. (Post Captain)
Stirling, Rear-Admiral Second-in-command to Calder in battle intercepting Villeneuve's fleet.
Stuart, Lieutenant-General the Hon. Charles is military commander of the expedition that takes Minorca in November 1798.
Tandy, Napper After Wolfe Tone, most famous of the Irishmen who attempted to lead an uprising in 1797-8. In late summer got as far as the coast of Donegal but was unable to land.
Thompson, Admiral Sir ??? With Jervis at St Vincent; made a baronet after the battle.
Tone, Wolfe Irish rebel, leader of the United Irishmen (with whom Stephen Maturin was associated (Master & Commander) , who goes to France in 1796 and plans the abortive rebellion of 1797.
Trollope, Captain Sir Henry commands the squadron keeping watch on the Dutch in the Texel before Camperdown. Plays a distinguished part in the subsequent battle, for which he is knighted.
Troubridge, Admiral Sir Thomas In May 1798 is sent with ten ships by St Vincent off Cadiz to join Nelson's reconnoitring squadron in the Mediterranean. Is second in command at the Nile, though his ship Culloden runs on a reef. After the battle returns with Nelson to the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies where he remains through the skirmishing of 1799.
3rd Sea Lord under St Vincent
In 1810 provides Hornblower with his orders in The Happy Return.
Warren, Commodore Sir John commands a blockading squadron off Toulon in 1801 which forestalls an attempt by the French o send a relieving fleet to Egypt.
William (The Younger) b. 1758. Prime Minister at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War in 1793.
Williams, Captain commands Agincourt at Camperdown; is afterwards court-martialled and dismissed for "cowardice, negligence and disaffection' for his conduct in the battle.
Wilson, Colonel Robert attached to the Tsar's army in Poland and East Prussia. Informs Drinkwater that the gold he is carrying must be diverted to Sweden. (Baltic Mission)
Wright, John Wesley agent of Naval Intelligence, also commander of Vincejo. Killed in French prison after being taken off French coast (in 1805 is killed by Santhonax).
DanishFischer, Commodore Olfert commander of Danish fleet at Copenhagen in 1801.
DutchMeures, Rear-Admiral commands a division at Camperdown under de Winter.
Reuter, Vice-Admiral commands a division at Camperdown under de Winter.
Story, Rear-Admiral commands the Dutch frigates, which, unusually, join in the battle, at Camperdown. Leads them in their escape, returning to the Texel with 11 ships.
Winter, Admiral John William rose to the rank of lieutenant in the Dutch navy in 1762; joined the French army on the Revolution, returning to Holland with it as a general in 1795. Though he had never commanded a ship, he was made admiral and in the summer of 1797 placed in command of the Dutch fleet at the Texel which is planned to be used for invading Ireland. Takes it to sea in October, but cannot evade Duncan's North Sea Fleet and is brought to action at Camperdown.
FlemishMerskein Antwerp boatbuilder who supervises construction of the landing craft for the planned invasion of England in 1797-8.
FrenchAllemand, Captain commander of 74-gun Magnanime engaged by Drinkwater during Missiessy's escape from Rochefort in 1805. (1805)
Blanquet-Duchayla, Rear-Admiral Is rear-admiral under Brueys in the Mediterranean in 1798 and is at the Nile.
Bompart, Commodore commands the French squadron which in September 1798 sails from Brest to Ireland with 3,000 troops, but is unable to shake off Keats' frigates; of the one ship of the line and eight frigates in his squadron, seven are taken by the British under Sir John Warren.
Bouillon, Duc de see d'Auvergne, Philippe
Brueys, Admiral commands the fleet which takes Napoleon to Malta and to Egypt in 1798, laving Toulon with thirteen sail of the line on May 19th.
Bruix, Admiral in April 1799 is placed in command of a fleet of 25 of the line with five frigates and two sloops that sales from Brest to sail into the Mediterranean to relieve Malta and the French in Egypt, and to destroy the British fleet. The plan calls for him to pick up five Spanish ships of the line from Ferrol, and then relieve the blockade of Cadiz, releasing a further seventeen; giving him in all the massive total of 47. A westerly gale, unfortunately for the plan, keeps the Spanish ships in harbour, but he manages to pass Gibraltar at the beginning of May.
Casabianca, Commodore one of La Crosse's assitants in organising the invasion fleet in 1797-8.
Crillon, Duc de Commanded the Allied armies at the siege of Gibraltar, 1785 (described in The Guernseyman). During the siege sent mail into the besieged town, and sent game for General Eliott's table together with ice to relieve the heat. After the peace visited Gibraltar and was cheered by the garrison. The Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars were fought in a different spirit.
Crosse, Rear-Admiral in charge of the construction and deployment of the French invasion fleet in 1797-8.
d'Auvergne, Philippe, Duc de Bouillon Guernsey-born, inherits title from distant relative and becomes leader of monarchist resistance to Napoleon (1805 & The Guernseyman)
Decres, Rear-Admiral as commodore, is one of La Crosse's assistants in organising the invasion fleet in 1797-8.
Is with Brueys in the Mediterranean in 1798 and is at the Nile. His ship Guillaume Tell escapes to Malta, but is blockaded there through 1799 into 1800. When she finally escapes out of harbour, she is taken by Lion, Foudroyant and the frigate Penelope. DecrŠs surrenders.
Diron, Dominique French privateer who "takes all flags" commanding the schooner Superbe in the Caribbean. Offers Fitton a 'pre-arranged rendezvous' but Fitton has already been relieved of command. (Mr Fitton's Commission)
Dumanoir-le-Pelley, Rear Admiral as Commodore, one of La Crosse's assitants in organising the invasion fleet in 1797-8.
Commands the frigate CarrŠre in which Murat and other generals escape from Egypt in 1799 after the Nile.
In 1801 takes command of six Spanish ships of the line at Cadiz which are to be transferred to the French to help convoy a relieving French army to Egypt. Part of the manoeuvrings before the Battle of Algeciras.
In command of rear division at Trafalgar. (1805)
Galles, Admiral Morard Commander of the French fleet sent to support the Wolfe Tone rebellion in Ireland, 1797.
as Commodore, one of La Crosse's assitants in organising the invasion fleet in 1797-8.
Ganteaume, Admiral as Commodore, one of La Crosse's assitants in organising the invasion fleet in 1797-8.
Commands the frigate Muiron in which Napoleon escapes from Egypt in 1799.
Commander of French fleet that escapes from Brest in 1800.
Escapes from Brest again in February 1801 with seven of the line and two frigates, makes it to Toulon and is ordered to relieve the stranded French army in Egypt. On his first attempt he is forced back into Toulon on sighting the British blockading fleet. In April sails again, finds Alexandria blockaded, and attempts to land troops at Benghazi, where however he is interrupted by Keith's arrival.
Gourdon, Admiral commander of French fleet in Ferrol, blockaded by Calder before Trafalgar.
Hardy, General with General M‚nage commands the troops carried in Bompart's squadron in the unsuccessful September 1798 attempt to invade Ireland.
Hoche, General Commanded the French army that put down the "Chouan" royalist rebels in Brittany, 1793-5.
Later commands the French expeditionary force intended to assist the rebellion of the United Irishmen in 1797, and also the joint Franco-Dutch force expected to sail in the summer of the same year from the Texel. Died from consumption while still hoping to sail.
Humbert, General commands the troops carried by Savary's squadron in the August 1798 invasion of Ireland; is forced to surrender.
Kleber, General is left in command of the army (of 20,000 men) in Egypt after Napoleon's escape in 1799.
Latouche-Treville, Admiral commander of French fleet blockaded in Toulon by Nelson until his death in early 1805.
Linois, Rear-Admiral Durand Sails from Toulon in 1801 with three of the line for Cadiz, where he is to rendezvous with Dumanoir in command of six ships transferred from the Spanish navy, take them to Italy, pick up troops and convoy them to Egypt. Anchors at Algeciras in July (on the way capturing Aubrey and Maturin in Sophie in Master & Commader), setting up the battle of Algeciras Bay, one of the few French victories.
Magendie Villeneuve's flag-captain at Trafalgar.
Magon, Rear-Admiral with Villeneuve at Trafalgar. Second in command to Gravina in the reserve division.
Menage, General with General Hardy commands the troops carried in Bompart's squadron in the unsuccessful September 1798 attempt to invade Ireland.
Missiessy, Admiral commander of French fleet blockaded in Rochefort before Trafalgar campaign. Sortied in August 1804, being turned back by Calder's squadron. Escapes the blockade in January 1805 and sails to Martinique(1805).
Mullon, Captain commander of La Cleopatre (40) when she was taken by Nymphe in the first equal ship-to-ship action of the Revolutionary/Napoleonic wars. Killed in the action.
Murat accompanied Napoleon on the invasion of Egypt in 1798. After the battle of the Nile escapes back to France in CarrŠre.
Muskein, Captain commands the French forces in the 1798 attempt to retake the St Marcouf islands off the coast of Normandy, intended as a rehearsal for the invasion fleet for England. The attempt is a dismal failure, and influences the decision to call off the invasion.
Napoleon No comment
Perree, Rear-Admiral commands the major attempt to relieve the blockade of Malta in 1800, his flagship being G‚n‚reux, one of the two ships that escaped from the Nile. Is killed when the attempt fails, his ship being taken jointly by Foudroyant and Northumberland, attached to Nelson's squadron.
Prigny Villeneuve's chief of staff at Trafalgar. (1805)
Savary, Commodore commands the French squadron which in August 1798 lands troops in Killala Bay, Ireland, in the unsuceesful attempt to foment an uprising. returns home safely and leads another squadron back to Ireland in October, under the impression that the original troops are still in the field. Can do nothing and brings his four frigates back to Rochefort.
Truguet, Admiral commander of French fleet blockaded in Brest before Trafalgar campaign.
Villaret-Joyeuse, Admiral commander of the French fleet at the battle of the Glorious First of June.
Villeneuve, Admiral Pierre Charles Jean from an ancient French aristocratic family, tracing descent from a knigh at Roncesvalles with Roland, he is rear-admiral under Brueys in the Medietrranean in 1798 and is the only French flag officer to escape from the Battle of the Nile (Aboukir Bay).
Takes command of fleet in Toulon in 1805, escapes Nelson's blockade in April and sails to the West Indies where he joins forces with Misseissy who has escaped with his fleet from Rochefort. Returning evades interception by Calder and goes to Cadiz, taking command of the combined French and Spanish fleets. From there he emerges to meet Nelson at Trafalgar.
Taken prisoner after the battle, he is exchanged and returns to France where he is said to have committed suicide, being stabbed six times. Allegedly he was murdered by Santhonax. (1805)
RussianBennigsen, General Hanoverian-born (and therefore a subject of King George); commanded the Russian army's successful defence against Napoleon in Poland and East Prussia in 1807. Allegedly the leader of the assassination of Tsar Alexander's father Paul (in which Alexander was involved)
Vorontoff, Prince Russian nobleman who supported the British alliance and opposed the Treaty of Tilsit.
SpanishBustamente, Admiral Don Joseph Commander of Spanish treasure fleet intercepted by British squadron in 1804. War follows the incident. Aubrey takes Lively into the action (Post Captain).
de Alava, Vice Admiral in command of leading division at Trafalgar
de Cordova, Admiral Juan in command of the Spanish fleet at the Battle of St. Vincent (1797), in which Spanish morale, rather than the Spanish fleet, was destroyed. Stripped of command after the battle and declared unfit for further service.
de Langara, Admiral Juan Commander of the Spanish fleet destroyed at the Moonlight Battle.
Gravina, Admiral commander of Spanish fleet in Cadiz before Trafalgar. Commands the reserve division in the battle.
Moreno, Vice-Admiral Commands the Spanish squadron that reinforces Linois at Algeciras after the battle of Algeciras Bay, and commands the joint fleet in the action that follows it.
SwedishChapman Architect who designs the French landing craft for the invasion fleet of 1797-8.