Wall tablet in Madingley, Cambridgeshire commemorating Admiral Sir Charles Cotton Bart d. 1812
Location
Church of St Mary Magdalene, Madingley, Cambridgeshire, England
Transcript
'SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF SIR CHARLES COTTON BART / ADMIRAL OF THE WHITE, AND COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE CHANNEL FLEET. / AT AN EARLY PERIOD OF LIFE HE ENTERED INTO THE SERVICE OF HIS COUNTRY, / FROM THE ACTIVE AND ALMOST INCESSANT OCCUPATIONS OF WHICH / NEITHER THE SUBSEQUENT POSSESSION OF AN AMPLE FORTUNE. NOR THE STILL / MORE POWERFUL TIES OF DOMESTIC AND LOCAL ATTACHMENT / WERE SUFFICIENT TO WITHDRAW HIM. / TO THE QUALITIES OF A DISTINGUISHED OFFICER, HE ADDED THE VIRTUES / WHICH MOST WARMLY ENDEAR THE PRIVATE CHARACTER. / IN THE MIDST OF HEALTH AND JUSTLY ACQUIRED HONOURS, / IN THE STRENUOUS DISCHARGE OF THE DUTIES OF THE HIGHEST NAVAL COMMAND. / HE WAS SUDDENLY SUMMONED BY THE DECREES OF PROVIDENCE: / THE POIGNANT DISTRESS OF THOSE TO WHOM HE WAS MOST DEAR / IT WOULD BE A VAIN ATTEMPT TO RECORD: / THE MORE TEMPERED, YET LIVELY REGRET OF AN EXTENSIVE CIRCLE OF FRIENDS/WILL LONG ATTEST THE UNAFFECTED BENEVOLENCE, THE PROBITY, THE CANDOUR AND DISINTERESTED SPIRIT, WHICH HAD SO JUSTLY SECURED / THEIR ESTEEM AND ADMIRATION. / HE DIED ON THE 23RD OF FEBRUARY 1812, AGED 58 YEARS. / HIS REMAINS ARE DEPOSITED WITH THOSE OF HIS ANCESTORS IN THE FAMILY VAULT / AT LANDWADE, WHILST THIS MEMORIAL IS PLACED AMID THE SCENES / WHICH HE MOST LOVED AND CHERISHED / WHEN LIVING / HE MARRIED FEBRUARY 24TH 1788, PHILADELPHIA, DAUGHTER OF / SIR JOSHUA ROWLEY BART. VICE ADMIRAL OF THE WHITE / BY WHOM HE HAS LEFT TWO SONS SAINT VINCENT AND CHARLES: / AND TWO DAUGHTERS, PHILADELPHIA LETITIA AND MARIA SUSANNA'
Details
Type: Wall tablet
Materials: Marble
Date Erected: 1812
Artists: John Flaxman
Vessel: HMS Mars
Event
Evacuation from Corunna
Event Date
1809
Event Category
1803-1815 Napoleonic War
People
Age: 58
Date of Death: 23/2/1812
Cause of Death: Unknown/None
Rank / Occupation: Admiral of the White
Organisation: Royal Navy
Extra
Recorder: The Arts Society (NADFAS)