Edward Rotheram 1830
Bildeston, Suffolk
1830 (Nov. 2). - Died, at the house of his friend Richard Wilson, esq., at Bildeston, Suffolk, aged 77, Edward Rotheram, esq., a captain in the royal navy, and C. B. Captain Rotheram was a son of the late John Rotheram, M.D., of Newcastle upon Tyne, a gentleman of high estimation both as a medical practitioner, and a person of general science. He was born at Hexham, where his father lived many years senior physician of the Infirmary. His elder brother, John studied physic, &c. under the celebrated Linnaeus, at Upsal, and died professor of natural philosophy in the University of St. Andrews, about the year 1805. Mr. Edward Rotheram was early instructed in mathematical learning by his father and the late Dr. Hutton. He acquired practical navigation in the same school which bred our immortal circumnavigator Cook. Leaving the coal trade, and entering the Navy, he served during the whole of the American war, chiefly in the squadron commanded by admiral Barrington; obtained a lieutenant‘s commission April 19, 1783, and was the senior officer of that rank on board the Culloden 74, in the battle of June 1, 1794; an event that led to his further promotion. In 1795 we find him commanding the Camel store-ship, on the Mediterranean station; and subsequently the Hawk sloop of war, and Lapwing frigate, at the Leeward Islands. His post commission bore date August 27, 1800. In the unparalleled battle of Trafalgar, vice-admiral Collingwood’s gallantry was most ably seconded by captain Rotheram, who commanded the Royal Sovereign, a first-rate, bearing the flag of that excellent officer, by whom he was subsequently appointed to the Bellerophon 74, as successor to captain John Cooke, who had fallen in the conflict. The severe loss sustained by the Royal Sovereign is the best proof of the share she had in the defeat of the combined fleets. Her loss was 47 killed and 94 wounded; and at the close of the battle, not a spar was left standing except the tottering foremast, which went overboard in the ensuing gale. A heavy shower of musquetry had nearly swept the quarter deck, when some of his officers requested captain Rotheram not to expose himself so much to the enemy’s small-arm men by wearing his epaulettes and a gold-lace hat. “Let me alone, (he replied) I have always fought in a cocked hat, and always will.” Captain Rotheram bore lord Nelson‘s banner as a K.B. at the funeral of that great chieftain; and was himself nominated a C.B. in 1815. Fifteen months previous to his death, on the recommendation of his late majesty William IV., when lord high admiral, he was appointed to an extra captaincy of Greenwich hospital. He was a brave officer, and universally respected—Gent’s. Mag.
Edward Rotheram 1830
Bildeston, Suffolk
1830 (Nov. 2). - Died, at the house of his friend Richard Wilson, esq., at Bildeston, Suffolk, aged 77, Edward Rotheram, esq., a captain in the royal navy, and C. B. Captain Rotheram was a son of the late John Rotheram, M.D., of Newcastle upon Tyne, a gentleman of high estimation both as a medical practitioner, and a person of general science. He was born at Hexham, where his father lived many years senior physician of the Infirmary. His elder brother, John studied physic, &c. under the celebrated Linnaeus, at Upsal, and died professor of natural philosophy in the University of St. Andrews, about the year 1805. Mr. Edward Rotheram was early instructed in mathematical learning by his father and the late Dr. Hutton. He acquired practical navigation in the same school which bred our immortal circumnavigator Cook. Leaving the coal trade, and entering the Navy, he served during the whole of the American war, chiefly in the squadron commanded by admiral Barrington; obtained a lieutenant‘s commission April 19, 1783, and was the senior officer of that rank on board the Culloden 74, in the battle of June 1, 1794; an event that led to his further promotion. In 1795 we find him commanding the Camel store-ship, on the Mediterranean station; and subsequently the Hawk sloop of war, and Lapwing frigate, at the Leeward Islands. His post commission bore date August 27, 1800. In the unparalleled battle of Trafalgar, vice-admiral Collingwood’s gallantry was most ably seconded by captain Rotheram, who commanded the Royal Sovereign, a first-rate, bearing the flag of that excellent officer, by whom he was subsequently appointed to the Bellerophon 74, as successor to captain John Cooke, who had fallen in the conflict. The severe loss sustained by the Royal Sovereign is the best proof of the share she had in the defeat of the combined fleets. Her loss was 47 killed and 94 wounded; and at the close of the battle, not a spar was left standing except the tottering foremast, which went overboard in the ensuing gale. A heavy shower of musquetry had nearly swept the quarter deck, when some of his officers requested captain Rotheram not to expose himself so much to the enemy’s small-arm men by wearing his epaulettes and a gold-lace hat. “Let me alone, (he replied) I have always fought in a cocked hat, and always will.” Captain Rotheram bore lord Nelson‘s banner as a K.B. at the funeral of that great chieftain; and was himself nominated a C.B. in 1815. Fifteen months previous to his death, on the recommendation of his late majesty William IV., when lord high admiral, he was appointed to an extra captaincy of Greenwich hospital. He was a brave officer, and universally respected—Gent’s. Mag.