A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Collinson, Richard
COLLINSON, C.B. (Captain, 1842.)
Richard Collinson entered the Navy 2 Dec. 1823; passed his examination in 1831; obtained his first commission 23 March, 1835; was appointed, 28 Sept. following, to the Sulphur surveying-vessel, Capts. Fred. Wm. Beechey and Edw. Belcher, and, 16 June, 1838, to the President 52, flag-ship of Rear-Admiral Chas. Bayne Hodgson Ross, both in South America; and, on 24 Jan. 1840, joined the Wellesley 72, Capt. Thos. Maitland, bearing the broad pendant, subsequently, of Sir Jas. John Gordon Bremer, Commander-in-Chief in the East Indies. During the operations against Canton, in March, 1841, he was officially praised for his very skilful and highly-meritorious exertions in piloting the Modeste 18, Capt. Harry Eyres, to an excellent and effective position without 600 yards of the last fort protecting the approaches to the city; and he obtained every favourable consideration, also, for his useful eflrorts in next sounding, conjointly with Lieut. Henry Kellett and Mr. Rich. Browne, Master of the Calliope, and conducting several men-of-war safely to an anchorage off Canton itself.[1] At the capture, in May following, of the whole line of defences, extending about two miles from the British factory, Mr. Collinson was further active in getting the ships into their respective positions.[2] He likewise, on 26 Aug., having assumed command of the Bentinck brig, of 10 guns, evinced his skill in sounding the Channel ahead of the station occupied by the Wellesley in the attack on the island of Golongsoo, and in then gallantly anchoring within the entrance of the Bay.[3] In Oct. of the same year we find Mr. Collinson assisting at the recapture of Chusan and the storming of the fortified heights and citadel of Chinghae.[4] The Admiralty having promoted him, 18 June, 1841, to the rank of Commander, and appointed him, 19 Feb. 1842, to the Plover surveying-vessel, he subsequently, on the night preceding the capture of Chapoo, 18 May ensuing – prior, however, to his actual removal to the Plover – sounded, thoroughly and eflectively, between the anchorage of the ships and the shore;[5] and, cooperating again with Commander Kellett, was engaged, during the months of June and July, in surveying the channel before Woosung preparatory to the attack on its batteries – also in the hostilities against Shanghae – and in commendably overcoming all the difficulties in the navigation of the Yang-tse-Kiang during the advance of the British on the city of Chin-Kiang-Foo.[6] Capt. Collinson, who continued in the Plovek until 1846, was promoted for his services to Post-rank 23 Dec. 1842,[7] and nominated a C.B. the day following.