Edward Rotheram

Captain Edward Rotheram CB RN was a senior officer of the British Royal Navy, who served for many years during the American War of Independence, French Revolutionary War and Napoleonic Wars. During his service, Rotheram saw action at several major naval engagements, including as a lieutenant at the Glorious First of June in 1794 and as captain of HMS Royal Sovereign at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Although he was highly praised for his actions at both battles, he was not well regarded in the service, being once described by his admiral at Trafalgar, Cuthbert Collingwood, as a man of no talent as a sea officer and a stupid man.

Rotheram was born in 1753 at Hexham in Northumberland to Dr. John Rotheram, a local physician, and his wife Catherine Roberts. Rotheram was the second of the couples seven children and was educated, with his brothers, at Head School in NewcastleUponTyne, where the family moved when Edward was seven. His elder brother John Rotheram was later a senior professor in natural philosophy at St Andrews University. Edward Rotheram went to sea at a young age, joining a collier sailing from Newcastle and serving aboard merchant ships for several years. In 1777 however, Rotheram joined the Royal Navy as a midshipman during the American Revolutionary War.

Source: Wikipedia