Author Description

The late 18th century was arguably the great age of naval warfare. Vice-Admiral Collingwood was one of the prominent figures in British naval history, and his longstanding partnership with Lord Nelson is tantamount to his success. ‘See how that noble fellow, Collingwood, carries his ship into action!’ was Nelson’s comment at Trafalgar. Collingwood and Nelson had been friends since they were junior officers and when his chief fell, Collingwood succeeded him. Oliver Warner’s Life and Letters is a straightforward and most readable account of Collingwood the man. It shows his rise by character and merit, his qualities as a friend, husband, father, and above all his untiring sea service in the long Napoleonic Wars from 1793 till his death in 1810, a period of seventeen years in which he rarely saw his home. A fine letter-writer and an outstanding commander of men, Collingwood is here presented by practised biographer and naval writer, Warner, who makes full use of the subject’s own letters, including some which were not available to previous biographers.