A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Coote, William
COOTE. (Retired Captain., 1840. f-p., 13-; h-p., 40.)
William Coote entered the Navy, 3 Oct. 1794, as Midshipman, on board the Royal George 100, Capt. Wm. Domett, bearing the flag in the Channel of Lord Bridport, with whom he remained four years. Until paid off at the peace, he afterwards served in succession on board the Diana 38, Capts. Faulknor and Fraser, on the Irish station – Brazen 18, Capt. Jas. Hanson, which vessel was lost near Brighton, 26 Jan. 1800 – and Venus 32, Capt. Thos. Graves, in the West Indies. He was there appointed, 4 July, 1802, Acting-Lieutenant of the Magnificent 74, Capt. John Giffard; and, on 6 Dec. following, was confirmed into the Hornet sloop. After a further attachment of a few weeks to the Glory 98, Capt. Wm. Champain, cruizing in the Channel, Mr. Coote joined, 8 Dec. 1804, the Agamemnon 64, Capts. John Harvey and Sir Edw. Berry, and had thus an opportunity of participating in the victories achieved off Trafalgar and St. Domingo, 21 Oct. 1805, and 6 Feb. 1806, on which latter occasion he was unfortunately wounded. Being next appointed to the Cerberus 32, Capt. Wm. Selby, he gallantly volunteered the command of her boats on the night of 2 Jan. 1807, and succeeded in cutting out two of the enemy’s vessels under a most tremendous fire from the batteries near Pearl Rock, Martinique.[1] He was again, however, so desperately wounded as to be totally deprived of sight, in consequence of which misfortune he ultimately obtained a pension of 400l, also a gratuity from the Patriotic Fund, and was elevated to the rank of Commander by commission dated 6 May, 1807. The retired rank of Post-Captain was conferred on him 10 Sept. 1840.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1807, p. 394.