royal_navy officer october experienced highly regarded officer royal_navy american war independence french revolutionary wars years napoleonic wars best known death hand hand combat french forces action ship badly damaged boarded sailors marines french ship line killed ensuing melee crew successfully drove opponents ultimately forced surrender aside death remarkably little known circumstances date birth unclear unlike fellow officers notable society figure respected profession following death subject tributes officers served alongside memorials placed local church wiltshire early life baptised march second son admiralty clerk wife margaret went sea age aboard cutter hms lieutenant going ashore spend time naval academy entered books royal sir enduring patron obtained position ship line aged thirteen served aboard eagle flagship years seeing extensive action eastern notable actions naval operations eagle closely engaged american units ashore distinguished assault causing admiral lord howe remark young man wish lieutenant sufficient age january promoted lieutenant joined hms superb sir forced leave absence ill health returned england went france spend year studying rejoining navy appointment gun hms duke captain saw action battle duke heavily engaged remained following signing treaty paris bringing end american war independence served lieutenant aboard command gun hms commodore jamaica flying broad pennant aboard retaining lieutenant injured bad fall home recovered sufficiently time spanish armament able appointment old patron sir lieutenant flagship gun hms london crisis passed breaking open war london paid went ashore frigate command outbreak french revolutionary wars february rejoined hood lieutenant new flagship gun channel_fleet february promoted commander given independent command small months later signal channel_fleet atlantic campaign lord howe signals fleet operating scout search french fleet june witness battle glorious june tiny ship far small engage combat action aftermath included general promotions issued fleet post captain july year stationed newfoundland flag captain sir aboard gun hms monarch returning britain offered command gun hms accepted found ordered west_indies resigned having told service west_indies likely kill instead early took command gun frigate employed blockade french atlantic ports year march company encountered returning ships short lived french invasion attempt britain defeated wales french ships attempted escape brest hunted british forced surrender turn successive short engagements british ships suffered single casualty combat french ships subsequently purchased royal_navy bringing prize money crew despite success unpopular men strict discipline enforced aboard ship demonstrated months action brest embroiled mutiny attempted assist admiral mutiny outbreak ordered ashore crew tried return ship removed command admiralty following mutiny returned service years later aboard new frigate preparation anglo russian invasion invasion conveyed duke york netherlands later participated evacuation force following campaign collapse involved operations remainder participated abortive invasion time captured french merchant ships small participated capture french frigate helping chase january heavily engaged received damage aided pursuing trapping french ship seized later purchased royal_navy shortly captured spanish ship french area peace briefly retired half pay recalled fleet outbreak napoleonic wars requested flag captain admiral sir plymouth refused instead applying active service received command april large combined french spanish fleet admiral escaped toulon beginning ordered join flying squadron vice admiral squadron arrived detached ships blockade rear admiral sir combined fleet entered august recalled force mounted blockade port reinforced ships later superseded nelson heard time general engagement nelson crown military ambition nelson fleet trapped blockading harbour awaiting expected attempt escape franco spanish fleet escaped october soon chased nelson brought battle october nelson formed fleet divisions weather column attack north direct command lee column operate south command stationed fifth line ships engaged action combined fleet took unusual step informing lieutenant master nelson orders case killed soon closely engaged french breaking enemy line closing french ships fleet rigging occupied kept steady fire took heavy toll sailors exposed british ship deck fire directed quarterdeck stood noted surprise wearing uniform coat sported marked ship captain french forgotten remove recognised danger represented replied late situation die like man reported killed sniper fire command taken lieutenant mustered crew deck prepared repel ship guns elevated fire french gathered boarding suggests boarding prevented action continued captain ordered crew board seize hoping use superiority numbers british crew sent sure lower deck guns continued fire french ship battle continued overhead threw french sailors pouring quarterdeck shooting enemy officer dead engaging hand hand combat men minutes returned deck reinforcements passing mortally wounded ladder badly wounded ship present informed fallen melee charge cleared french deck found dead quarterdeck musket balls lodged chest words let lie quietly minute tell lieutenant strike took charge battered directing fire ultimately forcing french ship surrender arrival british vessels suffered losing dead wounded lost chaotic storm followed battle survived primarily leadership later promoted post captain services action body buried sea day battle fatal casualties family legacy death admiral nelson widely britain widow year old daughter given numerous awards presents including gold medal captains fought action large silver presented money family received spent large wall plaque mounted andrew wiltshire close family home plaque commemorates life death wife memorial raised tributes fellow officers forthcoming including future explorer served said active like appearance number letters wrote brother prior held married née hardy june fourth daughter governor new_jersey later consul single daughter born january died february aged
John Cooke (Royal Navy officer)