Codrington, Edward (1770 -1851)

The youngest of three brothers born to an aristocratic, landowning family, Sir Edward Codrington was born on 27 April 1770. He was educated by an uncle named Mr Bethell and was sent for a short time to Harrow. He entered the Royal Navy in July 1783, serving off the Eastern Seaboard of the United States, in the Mediterranean, and in home waters, until he was promoted to lieutenant on 28 May 1793.  The following year on 7 October 1794 he was made commander of the Comet fireship.

In May 1805 he took command of the Orion of 74 guns.  In August, he joined the fleet off Cadiz, and on 21 October took part in the battle of Trafalgar, where he was selected by Nelson as leader of the squadron.  On 4 June 1814 he was promoted to the rank of rear admiral 

Codrington married Jane Hall, an English woman from Kingston, Jamaica, with whom he had three sons and three daughters. Codrington died in London on 28 April 1851. Two of his sons achieved distinction in the British armed forces. Sir William Codrington (1804–1884) was a commander in the Crimean War. Sir Henry Codrington (1808–1877) became an Admiral of the Fleet.