JEREMIAH COGHLAN, Esq.
A Companion of the Most Honorable Military Order of the Bath.
[Post-Captain of 1810.]
It is a generally received, though certainly erroneous opinion, that this intrepid officer was impressed into the naval service of his country: the following short statement will serve to prove that such was not the case:
At p. 214, et seq. of our first volume, Part I, we have noticed the destruction of the Dutton, a ship belonging to the Hon. East India Company, in Jan. 1796.
During the height of the storm, and before boats of any description could venture out to her assistance, Mr. Coghlan, then scarcely sixteen years of age, plunged into the sea with a rope tied round his body, and succeeded in catching hold of two men, whom he conducted safely to the shore.
After saving several lives in a similar manner, and at the imminent risk of being himself beaten to pieces against the rocks, Mr. Coghlan’s strength failed him, – but not so his spirit. Perceiving that the wind had in some measure decreased, he then hastened to the Barbican at Plymouth, obtained a boat, with several volunteers, and instantly proceeded to the wreck, from whence many persons were taken, and conveyed to different pilot vessels which, had begun to approach the citadel. It is supposed that, by Mr. Coghlan’s exertions, on this occasion, not less than 50 men were rescued from a watery grave, before a single boat from any of the men-of-war dared venture to his assistance, – so terrible was the state of the weather.
Mr. Coghlan’s heroic behaviour was fortunately witnessed by Sir Edward Pellew, now Viscount Exmouth, who soon afterwards offered him his patronage if he would consent to enter the navy. An equally flattering offer was likewise made to him on the part of the Hon. Court of Directors; and the Transport-Board marked their sense of his noble conduct by sending him a present of 20 guineas, at the same time directing their agent to distribute thirty more between his daring companions.
