A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Cole, Edward
COLE. (Lieutenant, 1806, f-p., 32; h-p., 17.)
Edward Cole entered the Navy (into which he was impressed), 29 May, 1798, as Captain of the Main Top, on board the Inflexible 64, Capt. Solomon Ferris, and, in 1799, was employed landing Russian troops in the Texel. In Nov. of the latter year he became Midshipman of the Redoubt 20, Capt. Jas. Keith Shepard, lying at the Nore. He rejoined Capt. Ferris soon afterwards, as Master’s Mate, in the Ruby 64, in which he assisted at the capture, in April, 1800, of the African island of Goree; and, removing next, with the same officer, to the Hannibal 74, was present, 6 July, 1801, in the battle of Algeciras, when the latter ship, having grounded under the enemy’s batteries, was compelled, after a long and deadly resistance, to strike her colours. Six days afterwards, having in the mean while joined the Superb 74, Capt. Rich Goodwin Keats, Mr. Cole took a warm part in the victory gained by Sir Jas. Saumarez over the Franco-Spanish squadron near Cadiz. The Superb subsequently proceeded to the West Indies with Lord Nelson in pursuit of the enemy’s fleet, and, while on that station, participated, as flag-ship of Sir John Duckworth, in the battle off St. Domingo, 6 Feb. 1806. At the close of the action Mr. Cole was appointed Acting-First-Lieutenant of Le Brave, one of the captured 74’s, Capt. Edm. Boger, with whom and the rest of the crew, when that ship foundered on her passage home, he was picked up by the Donegal 74, Capt. Pulteney Malcolm. Having been promoted, from the Royal George 100, flag-ship of Sir J. T. Duckworth, to a Lieutenancy, 23 Sept. 1806, in the Stately 64, Capt. Geo. Parker, he next assisted, in company with the Nassau 64, and was slightly wounded, at the capture and destruction, after an obstinate running fight, and a loss to the Stately of 4 killed and 28 wounded, of the Danish 74-gun ship Prindts Christian Frederic off the coast of Zealand, 22 March, 1808.[1] His ensuing appointments afloat were, 12 Aug. 1809, and 11 Sept. 1810, to the Ardent 64, Capt. Robt. Honyman, and Vengeur 74, commanded by various officers, but particularly by Capt. Tristram Robt. Ricketts, under whom he witnessed the capture of Fort Bowyer in Feb. 1815. From the latter year, until 1820, Mr. Cole further superintended the Ordinary at Plymouth and Greenhithe. Since May, 1837, he has been engaged on quarantine service in the river Medway.
Lieut. Cole, in consideration of the wounds he received at the capture of the Prindts Christian Frederic, was presented by the Patriotic Society with the sum of 40 guineas. He married a daughter of the late Robt. Woits, Esq., of Belaugh, co. Norfolk. Agents – Messrs. Ommanney.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1808, p. 536.