A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Colthurst, Nicholas
COLTHURST. (Retired Commander, 1841. f-p., 23; h-p., 28.)
Nicholas Colthurst entered the Navy, in 1796, as L.M., on board the Diana 38, Capt. Jonathan Faulknor, and until 1802 served, partly as Midshipman, in the same ship, the Mars 74, bearing the flag of Admiral Berkeley, and Formidable 98, Capt. Rich. Grindall, on the Irish and Channel stations. He then accompanied the latter officer into the Prince 98; went, in 1804, to Barbadoes, as Admiralty-Midshipman of the Renard sloop, Hon. Capt. Cathcart; took part, on rejoining the Prince, in the battle of Trafalgar, 21 Oct. 1805; and, on 19 Sept. 1806, was promoted, from the Ocean 98, flagship of Lord Collingwood off Cadiz, to a Lieutenancy in the Diamond 38, Capt. Geo. Argles, employed, successively, off the coasts of France, Africa, and South America. Until the conclusion of the war in 1815, Mr. Colthurst’s next Appointments were – 6 Dec. 1809, to the Druid 32, Capt. Sir Wm. Bolton, cruizing first on the Irish coast, and then off Cadiz – 24 Jan. 1812, to the Sceptre 74, Capt. Thos. Harvey, on the Halifax station – and, soon afterwards, as Senior-Lieutenant, to the gun-boat service on the Canadian Lakes. He subsequently obtained command, 10 Oct. 1822, 25 Feb. 1823, and 21 March, 1826, of the Townsend, Vigilant, and Asp cutters; and assumed his present rank 29 Jan. 1841.