sir 1st sir 1st march officer royal_navy napoleonic wars war early life early career later captured french saw service attract attention powerful patrons secured rise ranks officer considerable ability won noteworthy victory stronger french opponent embarking period distinguished service spanish portuguese coasts working closely british generals fighting war markedly contributing success good service led prime posting command squadron hunt american super frigates war came close capturing uss constitution lost circumstances unclear later return years peace followed end napoleonic wars saw rewarded continued serve navy tasked suppression slave trade publishing account war incompetence failure catch constitution broke personal peace having failed clear increasingly depressed accusations took life family early life born london second son chief clerk wife maria began education january appeared books gun rate captain servant triumph commander captain likely nominal entry gain naval service probably actually began years later january joined gun frigate hms rank moved june position aboard captain gun spent rest year serving newfoundland station transferred december joining gun rate captain english channel ship captain gun hms joined march remained paid discharged took passage aboard bound station ran reef september wrecked survivors able reach madagascar remained picked portuguese brig following year reach friendly soil portuguese ship captured french fellow survivors sent prisoners remained captivity released late sailed british held port madras french revolutionary wars french revolutionary wars broken period spent joined commodore flagship june passed lieutenant examination receive commission appointed lieutenant commander suffolk tender july sent cape good hope shortly arrival commander station admiral ordered surveyed subsequently condemned returned madras ship recommended return britain good report service assure employment promotion duly arrived england july year received appointment gun command captain advance came shortly lieutenant july aboard vice admiral flagship gun hms isis present capture dutch squadron incident august chosen mitchell carry despatches britain battle customary received promotion master commander september command gun sloop october commanded victor couple years escorting convoys occasion convoy troop transports red_sea bringing troops defeat french forces egypt stopped briefly supplies fell gun french corvette ships fought brief engagement september damaged victor rigging managed escape repairing damage searched surrounding area coming opponent september channel narrow wind unfavourable managed warp victor harbour aid closed french ship enduring fire finally able haul ship vessels exchanged hours observed sinking condition captain ran aground party men sent victor having boarded french vessel found crew set fire abandoned ship men temporarily evacuated assistance sent boarded managed fire achieved slipped reef deeper water sank came away prize exploit came attention lord admiralty earl vincent impressed daring promoted post captain gun hms leopard command mark favour commission april giving greater officers promoted week later general promotion followed peace paying leopard moved ashore spending january command liverpool married resident city couple children period ashore devised presented plans blockade hopes appointed lead expedition come scheme time received sea going command gun february napoleonic wars sent south spanish portuguese coasts found busy suppressing spanish coastal forts moved april command gun duly took expedition copenhagen received services british commander admiral sent britain despatches received active coast spain year supporting countryside admiral sir personally involved land based operations war wounded august attack castle attack failed led french withdrawing castle considering exposed raids particularly useful forcing french forces north county attempt defend hundreds small coastal creeks villages instead supporting forces south allowing wellington defeat operating devised need improved type ships boat developed design based elements boat built boat proved extremely useful tests aboard especially able land safely flat beach close support modified installing bows soon boats type requested captains ships succeeded sir commanding north coast squadron spain small squadron supported general general sir capture siege war march received command gun hms sent north_america deal american super frigates causing losses british merchant shipping highly sought posting reflected admiralty approval efforts spain sought battle uss constitution american ship escaped boston evaded gathered squadron consisting gun gun set pursuit caught constitution failed close later claiming weather frustrated attempts constitution time sailing captured british prizes hms ships gave chase constitution having allowed escape levant broke away followed retook levant allowed constitution escape continued cruise area opportunity pursue constitution news reached treaty signed war years peace returned britain september created invested knight commander january appointed groom duke gloucester day continued active service sea appointed commodore gun hms flagship played distinguished role anti slavery efforts led election honorary life member james account death life disturbed publication james paid particular attention escape constitution lamented failure bring action capture james claimed incompetence allowed constitution escape boston failure bring action squadron later sighted attributed amounted james summed episode regret triumphant escape constitution frigate united_states proud flag britain long ago brought scrutiny court martial blame fallen ought fallen investigated piece business recorded volumes applied admiralty opportunity clear satisfied friends relations increasingly concerned mental state result brother took precaution removing home appears smuggled room cut throat early morning march servant sleeping room immediately brought help died minutes inflicting injury later determined deceased destroyed state temporary mental extinct death
Sir George Collier, 1st Baronet