—- Captain Sir George Ralph Collier– William Beechey (c.1814) (x)

“Sir George Ralph Collier, 1st Baronet KCB (1774 – 24 March 1824) was an officer of the Royal Navy during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, and the War of 1812. He had an eventful early life, being shipwrecked early in his career and later captured by the French. Nevertheless he saw enough service to attract the attention of powerful patrons that secured his rise through the ranks. An officer of considerable ability, he won a noteworthy victory against a stronger French opponent, before embarking on a period of distinguished service off the Spanish and Portuguese coasts, working closely with the British generals fighting the Peninsular War, and markedly contributing to their success. His good service led to a prime posting in command of a squadron despatched to hunt down and neutralise the American super frigates during the War of 1812. He came close to capturing the USS Constitution, but lost her in circumstances that were unclear and would later return to haunt him. The years of peace that followed the end of the Napoleonic Wars saw him rewarded with a baronetcy, and his continued to serve in the navy where he was tasked with the suppression of the slave trade. The publishing of William James’s account of the War of 1812, which lambasted him for incompetence and cowardice in his failure to catch the Constitution, broke his personal peace. Having failed to clear his name, and increasingly depressed by the accusations, Collier took his own life in 1824.” (x)

—- Captain Sir Robert Stopford, Bart. – William Beechey (c.1790-1791)

“He was promoted to captain at the age of 22 and fought at the Battle of the Glorious First of June in 1794. He received a gold medal for his conduct at the Battle of San Domingo in 1806, took part in the Rio and Copenhagen expeditions of 1806-07, attacked Rochefort in 1808, was Commander-in-Chief at the Cape of Good Hope in 1808 and reduced Java in 1811. His last active post was as commander-in-chief of the Mediterranean fleet and he was present at the Bombardment of Acre in 1840. Irritated by what he regarded as Stopford’s lack of progress, the foreign secretary, Lord Palmerston, dismissed him as ‘a superannuated twaddler’. Commodore Charles Napier undertook effective command of the operation. From 1 May 1841 until his death he was Governor of Greenwich Hospital, in the rank of Admiral.” (x)