COMMANDER // 1744–1819
William Cornwallis
admiralGreat Britain1 battle1 war
Lifespan
1744 – 1819
Active service 1795 — 1 battle across 1 war; first command at age 51.
Profile
Admiral Sir William Cornwallis, was a Royal Navy officer and politician. Cornwallis took part in a number of decisive battles including the siege of Louisbourg in 1758, when he was 14, and the Battle of the Saintes but is best known as a friend of Lord Nelson and as the commander-in-chief of the Channel Fleet during the Napoleonic Wars. He is depicted in the Horatio Hornblower novel, Hornblower and the Hotspur. His affectionate contemporary nickname from "the ranks" was Billy Blue, and a sea shanty was written during his period of service, reflecting the admiration his men had for him.
Battles (1)
1795
Cornwallis's RetreatFrench Revolutionary Wars · Great Britain