Westcott was born in Honiton, Devon and baptized 23rd April 1753 to parents Benjamin, a baker, and mother Susanna Westcott.[a] He joined the Navy sometime between 1765 and 1768, and by 1768 he was serving as master's mate aboard the frigateHMS Solebay.[1][b] He spent five years aboard Solebay, rising to the rank of midshipman, and spending time under George Vandeput. He then moved aboard HMS Albion, where he spent the next three years under Samuel Barrington and John Leveson-Gower. He passed his lieutenant's examination on 10 January 1776 and received his promotion to that rank on 6 August 1777, moving aboard HMS Valiant.[1] Under her captain, Samuel Granston Goodall, Valiant was present at the First Battle of Ushant on 27 July 1778, after which Westcott and Valiant joined the fleet under Sir Charles Hardy in 1779. He was present with Vice-Admiral George Darby's fleet when they relieved Gibraltar in April 1781.[1]
On 1 December 1787 Westcott was promoted to commander and between 1789 and 1790 had command of the sloopHMS Fortune.[1] He was promoted to captain on 1 October 1790, and became flag captain aboard HMS London. When London was paid off in late 1791, Westcott went onto half-pay until becoming Rear-Admiral Benjamin Caldwell's flag captain aboard HMS Impregnable in September 1793. Westcott was then present at the Glorious First of June in 1794, afterwards following Caldwell aboard HMS Majestic.[1] He went to the West Indies, but returned with Sir John Laforey in June 1796. Majestic then joined the Channel Fleet, and was present at the Spithead Mutiny in April and May 1797. Majestic then joined John Jervis off Cadiz, where Westcott was ordered to take her to join Rear-admiral Nelson in the Mediterranean. Nelson was searching for the French fleet under Vice-Admiral François-Paul Brueys d'Aigalliers.[1]
Death
Tonnant under fire from HMS Majestic at the Battle of the Nile.Westcott's memorial, St Paul's Cathedral
When Nelson located the French fleet at anchor at Aboukir Bay, he quickly ordered the British into the attack. Majestic was towards the rear of the British line, and did not come into action until late in the battle.[2] In the darkness and smoke she collided with Heureux and became entangled in her rigging. Trapped for several minutes, Majestic suffered heavy casualties. Westcott was hit by a musket ball in the throat and killed.[2]Majestic's first lieutenant, Robert Cuthbert took over and continued the battle. Cuthbert was confirmed as acting captain by Nelson the day after the battle.[2]
A good officer and a worthy man; but, if it was a part of our condition to choose a day to die on, where could he have found one so memorable, so eminently distinguished among great days?[2]
Westcott was buried at sea. A monument to his memory, sculpted by Thomas Banks, was erected in St Paul's Cathedral, and another in the church in his birthplace at Honiton. In January 1801, Nelson was passing through Honiton, on his way to take up a new command at Plymouth. Nelson invited his nearest surviving family to breakfast, and presented Mrs. Westcott with his own Nile medal, saying, "You will not value it less because Nelson has worn it."[3] On 17 January 1801 he wrote to Lady Hamilton:
At Honiton I visited Captain Westcott's mother – poor thing, except from the bounty of government and Lloyd's, in very low circumstances. The brother is a tailor, but had they been chimney-sweepers it was my duty to show them respect.[3]
Notes
a.^ Some confusion exists. The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography suggests he was born around 1745, but Westcott's memorial in St Paul's Cathedral describes him as 46 at the time of his death in 1798, and parish records from Honiton indicate that he was baptised on 24 April 1753.
b.^Laughton's biography implies an entry date of 1768, whilst Westcott's memorial states he had been serving in the navy for 33 years at his death.
Footnotes
^ abcdefghLaughton. Dictionary of National Biography. p. 350.
^ abcdLaughton. Dictionary of National Biography. p. 351.
