Global InformationJeremiah Coghlan information
Jeremiah Coghlan | |
|---|---|
 Silhouette of Captain Coghlan | |
| Nickname(s) | Intrepid Jerry[1] |
| Born | c. 1779[1] Ireland |
| Died | 4 March 1844 (aged 69) |
| Buried | Ryde, St Thomas Church |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |  Royal Navy |
| Rank | Post-Captain |
| Unit | HMS Indefatigable HMS Impetueux |
| Commands held | HMS Viper HMS Nimble HMS Renard HMS Elk HMS Euryalus HMS Caledonia HMS Alcmene HMS Forte |
| Wars | French Revolutionary Wars Napoleonic Wars Action of 13 January 1797 Action of 5 November 1813 |
| Awards | Companion of the Order of The Bath Freeman of the City of Cork |
| Relations | General Sir William Marcus Coghlan (son) Susan Pellew Coghlan (daughter)[2] |
Jeremiah Coghlan CB (c. 1776 – 4 March 1844) was a British naval officer.[notes 1] He was famous for his almost legendary feats of daring during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Despite his relatively humble background,[3] he managed to rise from ship's boy to the rank of captain at the age of 34. This he achieved through notable acts of extraordinary courage and a succession of sea-fights which made him a celebrated hero, almost without equal,[4][5] and he would later dine with both Nelson[4] and Napoleon.[6] Coghlan's career was initiated by his patron and close friend Sir Edward Pellew, after Pellew witnessed his heroic efforts during the rescue of the survivors of the East Indiaman Dutton.[5]
Coghlan's exploits have been described as similar to plots for a collection of Hornblower novels[7] Coghlan has also been compared to Hornblower[8][9] because they were both protégés of Sir Edward Pellew aboard HMS Indefatigable.
From May 1804 he served in the West Indies, returning as Sir Edward Pellew's flag captain on HMS Caledonia eight years later.[10]
Jeremiah Coghlan also holds the distinction of being the only person in the Royal Navy to have been promoted to Lieutenant after only four years service.[11][12]
- ^ a b The London Literary Gazette and Journal of Belles Lettres, Arts, Sciences, Etc. London: H. Colburn. 1829. pp. 834.
- ^ The Gentleman's Magazine. Vol. 155. March 1834. p. 326.
- ^ Taylor p108
- ^ a b Buckingham p136. 1855.
- ^ a b Ward's miscellany (and family magazine). 1837. p. 304.
- ^ Napoleon's Last Voyages...diaries of Admiral Sir Thomas Ussher p65. 1906.
- ^ MacCarthy, C.J.F. (1985). Jeremiah Coghlan: A Man of War c. 1777-1844. Skibbereen: Seanchas Chairbre, no. 2.
- ^ Taylor. p. 160.
- ^ Taylor, Stephen (4 September 2012). Taylor. Faber & Faber. p. 318. ISBN 9780571277131.
- ^ Taylor p225
- ^ The United Service Magazine, Volume 12. H. Colburn. 1833.
- ^ Giffard p95. 1910.
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