William Cornwallis

Admiral Sir William Cornwallis, GCB (10 February 1744 - 5 July 1819) was a Royal Navy officer who fought in the Napoleonic Wars. He was the brother of Charles Cornwallis, the 1st Marquess Cornwallis, governor-general of India.

Early life and career

William Cornwallis was born 10 February 1744 and entered the navy in 1755. His promotion was rapid and in 1766 he reached post-rank. Until 1779 he held various commands doing the regular work of the navy in convoy. In that year he commanded HMS "Lion" (64) in the fleet of Admiral Byron. The "Lion" was very roughly handled in the Battle of Grenada on 6 July 1779 and had to make her way alone to Jamaica. In March 1780 he fought an action in company with two other vessels against a much superior French force off Monti Cristi, and had another encounter with them near Bermuda in June. The force he engaged was the fleet carrying the troops of Rochambeau to North America. It was too strong for his squadron of two small ships of the line, two 50-gun ships, and a frigate.

After taking part in the second relief of Gibraltar, Cornwallis returned to North America and served with Hood in the Battle of St. Kitts and with Rodney in the Battle of the Saintes on 12 April 1782. Some very rough verses which he wrote on the action have been printed in Leyland's "Brest-Papers," published for the Navy Record Society, which show that he thought very ill of Rodney's management of the battle.

In 1788 he went to the East Indies as commodore. He remained there until 1794. He played a role in the war with Tippoo Sahib and helped to reduce Pondicherry. His promotion to rear-admiral dates from 1 February 1793 and on 4 July 1794 he became vice-admiral.

French Revolutionary Wars

In the French Revolutionary Wars his services were with the Channel Fleet. The most signal of them was performed on 16 June 1795 when he carried out what was always spoken of with respect as "the retreat of Cornwallis." He was cruising near Brest with four ships of the line and two frigates when he was sighted by a French fleet of twelve sail of the line and several large frigates commanded by Villaret Joyeuse. The odds being very great, he was compelled to make off. But two of his ships were heavy sailers and fell behind. He was consequently overtaken and attacked on both sides. The rearmost ship, the "Mars" (74), suffered severely in her rigging and was in danger of being surrounded by the French. Cornwallis turned to support her, and the enemy, impressed by a conviction that he must be relying on help within easy reach, gave up the pursuit.

The action is remarkable evidence of the moral superiority which the victory of the Glorious First of June, and the known efficiency of the British crews, had given to the Royal Navy. The reputation of Cornwallis was amplified and the praise given him was no doubt the greater because he was personally very popular with officers and men.

In 1796 Cornwallis incurred a court-martial (in consequence of a misunderstanding and apparently some temper on both sides) on the charge of refusing to obey an order from the Admiralty. He was practically acquitted. The substance of the case was that he demurred on the ground of health at being called upon to go to the West Indies, in a small frigate, and without "comfort".

Cornwallis became full admiral in 1799 and held the Channel Command for a short interval in 180? and from 1803 to 1806, but saw no further service. He was made a G.C.B. in 1815 and died on 5 July 1819. His various nicknames among the sailors, "Billy go tight" (given on account of his rubicund complexion), as well as "Billy Blue", "Coachee", and "Mr Whip", seem to show that he was regarded with more of affection than reverence.

References

*1911