He entered the Royal Navy at a young age, eventually rising from midshipman to lieutenant in the American Revolutionary War, where he saw action at the Battle of Bunker Hill during which he led a naval brigade.

He remained in post despite worsening health for several years and after finally being allowed to resign, he would die a day later at sea on the journey back to England.

[2] Sources vary as to the exact date but Collingwood was born on either 24 or 26 September 1748 in Newcastle upon Tyne in a house (since demolished) on a street of medieval origin named 'the Side'.

[13][12] In 1772, Collingwood spent a short period attached to HMS Lenox, a guardship at Portsmouth commanded by Captain Robert Roddam.

[17] With the discontent forming in the Americas that would result in the ensuing American Revolutionary War, Collingwood sailed to Boston in 1774 with Admiral Samuel Graves on board HMS Preston.

[19] However, as American revolutionary forces encircled the town, Collingwood fought in the British naval brigade ashore at the Battle of Bunker Hill on 17 June 1775.

Nelson was debilitated by disease and had to recover before being promoted to a larger vessel, and Collingwood succeeded him in command of Hinchinbrook and brought the remainder of the expedition back to Jamaica.

[29] Collingwood led his crew ashore in rafts (made from broken rigging and planks) where they remained for ten days until rescued.

[33] In 1784 he and Nelson were together ashore in Antigua for several weeks where they both became attracted to the unobtainable American-born Mary Moutray, wo was married to Royal Commissioner of the island.

[38] Collingwood was given an extended leave and as a relatively junior post-captain in a time of increased levels of peace, he was not given a ship for several years.

[43] Following the beginning of the French Revolutionary Wars, in 1793, he was appointed captain of HMS Prince, the flagship of Rear Admiral George Bowyer in the Channel Fleet.

[51] Because he was not mentioned specifically in Howe's report to the admiralty, whether by error or intention,[52] Collingwood was disappointed not to receive a Naval Gold Medal for the action unlike the other Captains present.

[56] After leaving England, the ship sailed for the Mediterranean Sea, protecting a merchant convoy to Corsica before joining British forces in blockade off Italy at Livorno (Leghorn), where Collingwood would again meet and serve with his friend Horatio Nelson.

[72] In June 1799, Collingwood returned to sea, hoisting his flag in the 74-gun HMS Triumph, joined the Channel Fleet and sailed to the Mediterranean where the principal naval forces of France and Spain were assembled.

[82][83] After discovering that great repairs were needed to the Venerable,[83] in February 1804, he transferred his flag to HMS Culloden resuming blockade with the fleet off France.

[88] Before half of the enemy's force had entered the harbour he resumed the blockade off Cadiz by shortening sail and standing towards the combined fleet for battle.

[86][89] He was soon joined by several other ships, increasing the blockade and then by Nelson who took command of the squadron on 28 September, hoping to lure the combined fleet out into a major engagement.

[97] "See", said Nelson, pointing to Royal Sovereign as she penetrated the centre of the enemy's line, "see how that noble fellow Collingwood carries his ship into action!

[99] This was seen as a feat that owed much to Collingwood's frequent drilling of his gunnery crew: he believed that if a ship could release 3 well aimed broadsides in five minutes, "no enemy could resist them".

[99] On the death of Nelson, Collingwood assumed command of the fleet and his position as acting commander-in-chief, transferring his flag to the frigate HMS Euryalus because of the damage to the Sovereign.

[111] However, the barony was enacted to pass only along the male line and so he later wrote numerous times to the government asking it be amended so his daughters could inherit which did not occur.

[116] In 1806, while at sea, he organised the sale of his house at Morpeth after fully inheriting an estate called Chirton from his wealthy third cousin, Edward Collingwood.

[120][121] From Trafalgar until his death, no great naval action was fought in the Mediterranean Sea as a result of the British blockade and manoeuvrings of ships to prevent an enemy fleet from forming.

[109] Although several small French squadrons would attempt to run the blockade and one successfully landed troops in the Caribbean two months after Trafalgar, the majority were either intercepted or forced to return to port by superior firepower.

[135][137] He requested to be relieved of his command of the fleet so that he might return home, however the government urgently required an admiral with the experience and skill of Collingwood to remain, on the grounds that his country could not dispense with his services in the face of the still potent threat that the French and their allies could pose.

[139] He surrendered command of the Mediterranean on 3 March 1810, temporarily to Rear-admiral George Martin before it passed officially to Sir Charles Cotton.

[139] After finally being given permission to return home, Collingwood died as a result of cancer on board HMS Ville de Paris, off Port Mahon as he sailed for England, on 7 March 1810.

[141] His body lay in State for several days at Greenwich Hospital before he was laid to rest beside Nelson in the crypt of St Paul's Cathedral.

"[147][148] Collingwood has been memorialised in name with a Royal navy shore establishment, several towns and some 27 streets, schools and public houses.

[158] Collingwood's former temporary residence in Es Castell close to Mahon, Menorca is now a hotel and home to a collection of heirlooms relating to his time on the island.