Henry Cort

		Henry Cort Inventor - Creator of puddled iron - Father of iron trade
		This page is part of a website based on the life and achievements of eighteenth-century inventor Henry Cort. The creator and owner of the site was Eric Alexander who passed away. The site is now hosted by Hans Weebers Please contact me with any comments or queries.

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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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

Related pages

Life of Henry Cort

Work of a navy agent

Financial prospects for a navy agent

Toulmin and other agents

Cort's navy office associates

Ship's pursers

Thomas Morgan

The pages on this site are copied from the original site of Eric Alexander (henrycort.net) with his allowance.
Eric passed away abt 2012
If you use/copy information from this site, please include a link to the page where you found the information.