Talk:Thomas Atkinson (Royal Navy officer)

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Military history: Biography / Maritime / British / European / Early Modern

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Battle of Cape St. Vincent

I can't find any reference to HMS Emerald at the Battle of Cape St. Vincent (1797). Are you sure she was there? Corneredmouse (talk) 14:02, 6 January 2011 (UTC)[reply]

The passage of the book from which I took that information seems quite clear. "He qualified as a master in 1795 and was appointed to the frigate HMS Emerald, in which he saw action at the Battle of Cape St. Vincent (14th February 1797)" So it is that battle of Cape St Vincent to which the author is alluding. I haven't been able to cross reference it but I will look into it soon.--Ykraps (talk) 19:59, 6 January 2011 (UTC)[reply]

I have not been able to find a second reference to corroborate that sentence. Nor can I ascertain whether Atkinson was at the battle of Cape St Vincent in a different ship or aboard the Emerald somewhere else. Now it has been questioned, another source is needed or the sentence needs to be rewritten to make it less definite. I suggest we try and involve other interested parties in this discussion. Regards--Ykraps (talk) 09:22, 8 January 2011 (UTC)[reply]

The Emerald was not present at the Battle of Cape St Vincent. She was anchored nearby in Lagos Bay at the time of the Battle. Following the Battle, the victorious British fleet and its prizes joined the Emerald and other ships in the Bay. Among the remainder of the Spanish fleet, the disabled Santisima Trinidad had been sighted escaping from the battle and in tow of a frigate. Admiral Jervis despatched the Emerald, Minerve, Niger, Bonne Citoyenne and sloop Raven from Lagos Bay to seek her - they did spot her on 20th February, about 80 miles SSE of Cape St Vincent, but failed to bring her to action; but this was all six days after the Battle itself. Rif Winfield (talk) 10:39, 8 January 2011 (UTC)[reply]

In light of this information, I'm going to delete the bit about the battle of Cape St Vincent (unless anyone has any information about Atkinson being aboard a different ship at that time?)--Ykraps (talk) 17:37, 8 January 2011 (UTC)[reply]