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This page is part of a website based
on the life and achievements of eighteenth-century inventor Henry Cort. Please email site controller Eric
Alexander with any comments or queries. |
Henry Cort’s
navy clients
We have noted elsewhere the number of clients on Cort’s books
during his period as navy agent.
Quality is also worthy of comment.
Three flag officers (rear
admiral or above) are regularly on his books: George, Earl of Northesk; John Amherst; and Sir William Burnaby (later Governor
of Jamaica).
Through 1771 and 1772 he acts
for the King's brother, Henry Frederick Duke of Cumberland (who has undergone
rapid promotion to admiral).
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Cumberland had been intended by his brother for a sober career as a naval officer but it was becoming clear that he was to be remembered for less reputable exploits. From Oxford DNB entry for
Henry Frederick, Duke of Cumberland |
Some of the captains among his
clients will become flag officers later: notably Mark Milbanke, Hugh Pigot and
Edward Hughes. Amherst and Milbanke both
started their naval careers on ships commanded by Thomas
Smith.
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He was appointed commander-in-chief in the East
Indies, a commodore in the Salisbury (50 guns). In India he spent an uneventful though
watchful three years, in which the French increased their military and
diplomatic strength. Up to this point
Hughes’s career had been unremarkable, though he was dependable and was
notable for his care for his crew. From Oxford DNB entry for
Edward Hughes. |
In April (1782) Pigot was appointed a commissioner of the Admiralty,
and on 24 April he was promoted admiral.
Keppel then appointed him commander-in-chief of the Leeward Islands
station, and on 18 May he sailed in the Jupiter to
supersede Admiral George Rodney. From Oxford DNB entry for
Hugh Pigot. |
But the most senior captain
among Cort’s clients is Coningsbury Norbury (the second such officer to bear
this name, the earlier one being his uncle).
Norbury and
Cort develop a close relationship.
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This Defendant during that year and the
subsequent years one thousand seven hundred and seventy four and one thousand
seven hundred and seventy five recommended all his Clients to the said Oliver Toulmin but on account of the great Intimacy
which subsisted between the said Testator and the Defendant this Defendant
continued too be the Agent for the said Testator to the time of his death and
the said Testator never revoked the letter of Attorney under which the
Defendant had originally acted for him as his Agent. From Cort’s defence
against a suit arising from the will of Coningsbury Norbury. |
This intimacy probably dates
from the death of Norbury’s brother (or possibly cousin – they are named as
nephews in Cecilia Norbury’s will) while serving under him on the Hampshire. You would not guess the close relationship
from the bland way this death is recorded.
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Departed this
life Wm Thomas Norbury, Second Lieutenant. From
log of HMS Hampshire, 12 June 1760. |
But Thomas has served under
Coningsby's captaincy for most of his naval career. At the time of his death both he and Coningsby are using Thomas Bell as agent, and Cort is Bell’s clerk.
So we find Cort collecting
remittances on behalf of Thomas Norbury’s widow, and we may surmise that he has
made a special effort which earns Coningsby’s gratitude. Maybe helped her out financially during the
wait for her first remittance.
Henry Cort's second son is
christened Francis Coningsby Cort (and consistently drops the “Francis” when
signing his name). His godfather,
naturally enough, is Coningsby Norbury.
Norbury dies in 1787, but echoes
of the friendship continue to haunt Cort.
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Mr Cort was sent for from Gosport and
paid the Doctor and told him he would see him paid for further Attendance He
has had no Coat on since but some Cloak or Gown that Mr Cort gave him.
From account of Coningsby Norbury’s illness by Robert Penrice (Penrice v
Fisher,
1787) |
Two further officers are worthy
of mention.
Captain
Frederick Cornewall, who lost an arm and gained a captaincy during an
action against the French in February 1743/4, is one
of the highest-ranked “half pay” captains using Cort as attorney.
Captain Charles
Middleton uses Cort on one occasion, the second half of 1767. Presumably his regular agent William Clarke
is not available. His path crosses
Cort's again in the 1780s: how smoothly has their first encounter gone?
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Related pages |
henrycort.net
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