178 - AFTER LEMUEL FRANCIS ABBOTT (BRITISH, 1760-1803)

AFTER LEMUEL FRANCIS ABBOTT (BRITISH, 1760-1803) Captain John Cooke of the 'Bellerophon', 1762-1805 Oil on canvas 29¾ x 24¾in. (76 x 63cm.) Captain John Cooke (1762-1805) commanded the Bellerophon at Trafalgar, being the fifth ship in Admiral Collingwood’s Lee Column. By the time she broke through the enemy line, the Spanish Monarca had already struck her colours and was awaiting her captors. In the absence of any boarding party to take possession of her however, she promptly re-hoisted her colours and engaged Bellerophon as soon as the latter came within range. Despite his careful manoeuvring, Captain Cooke suddenly found himself being fired upon by L’Aigle as well, and the two enemy “74s” pounded Bellerophon for some time, during which L'Aigle sent a boarding party into which Cooke threw himself, shooting an officer dead and engaging in hand-to-hand combat; First Lt Cumby's charge cleared the French but he found Cooke dead on the quarterdeck, two musket balls lodged in his chest. Cooke's last words had been Let me lie quietly a minute. Tell Lieutenant Cumby never to strike. Cumby now assumed command and, after a tremendous fight, Monarca finally surrendered and Midshipman Henry Walker boarded her with a prize crew. L’Aigle meanwhile escaped Bellerophon’s clutches but, shortly afterwards, was captured by H.M.S. Defiance. left of the head bitumen cracking. Framed 36.5 x 31.5in.