Admiral Sir Charles Cunningham – A Friend of Nelson

Here’s a question you don’t often hear. What is the connection between an arctic tree in Canada, the River Clyde in Scotland, the worst mutiny in Royal Navy history, and Lord Nelson? In this case, the answer is Rear Admiral Sir Charles Cunningham.

Though not as famous as Andrew Brown Cunningham, who was Admiral of the entire allied Fleet during the D-Day landings, Sir Charles played a very important role in quelling the mutiny and also served under Nelson during the time he captained the Hinchinbrook, and during his time with Nelson, Nelson became impressed with Cunningham’s tactics and seamanship.

Then, after he obtained his own command,  he later gave substantial aid to Nelson during the Battle of Grand Turk, where Cunningham, who was then captain of the 12 gun Barrington aided Nelson with his local knowledge of the area. However, due to bad weather, the attack had to be called off, and the forces had to disperse to undertake other endeavours.

He also served under Lord Hood in the Mediterranean, and in 1794 he once more had the opportunity to work alongside his good friend Lord Nelson. During this long tour he was entrusted with transporting diplomats and transporting messages between the fleet and the diplomatic agents in the nearby station. He also successfully captured a prize ship, and was awarded a new ship of 36 guns called the Lowesoffe. In this new position he was entrusted by Lord Hood with sending all messages back to the Lordships, to inform them of any information that they may wish to have.

After this he was given perhaps his most favourite ship, the 38 gun frigate called the Clyde, and it was in this ship he helped break the Nore mutiny, where Cunningham and a Captain Neale, were the only two captains that were able to remain in charge of their ships.

Then, while pretending their ships were still part of the mutiny, he worked out how to escape unharmed from under the guns of 13 ships of the line, which all had overthrown their captains. This he successfully did, by carefully manipulating the situation surrounding him, and then slipping anchor just as the tides were changing; thus preventing the ships that had mutineered from following.

Upon seeing the Clyde escaping, and seeing also how his crew followed Cunningham’s lead, the mutiny soon collapsed, but there is more to this particular story.

As Richard Cunningham was the primary source for information on what actually happened during the mutiny, Cunningham was tasked with reporting all events that occurred. This led him to write a review of the events, and in this review he took care to describe the mutineers as always remaining loyal to the King, and their demands were only linked to a desire to improve their working conditions.

In any other industry, Cunningham gave the mutineers respect, and he set out their actions as more resembling a general strike, even though, under the strict rules of the Royal Navy these actions were treasonous.

So, it is amazing that even though some of the primary ring-leaders were executed, the remaining servicemen were not reprimanded. This leniency is probably, at least partly, because of the actions taken by Cunningham, in his communications with the admiralty during the final days of the mutiny.

In 1801 Charles Cunningham was promoted to Commodore and in 1803 he took command of a 74 gun (third rate ship of the line) called the Princess of Orange, which should not be confused with the Prince of Orange, which was converted to a floating hulk in 1772. His last ship he commanded was HMS Leopard. He retired in 1829 as Rear Admiral, and became a Knight Commander of the Royal Guelphic Order in 1832.

But how does this story link to an arctic tree, a tree so small it only reaches a height of a few inches, even when over 200 years old?

The answer is found in Cunningham Inlet and Cunningham Mountains in northern Canada. These places were named after Sir Charles Cunningham by Jon Ross, a friend of Charles Cunningham. It is in Cunningham Inlet that the diminutive 2 inch tall tree can be found.

Charles Cunningham, who was born in the year 1755, and married twice. His first wife was a Miss Boycott, and his second wife was a Miss Proby. It is reported that his only son died at sea, and his eldest daughter, Anne Elizabeth Cunningham died at Bassett Down House in Swindon at the age of 68 in the year 1856, Charlotte a younger daughter was born in 1800, and died in the year 1833.

Sir Charles Cunningham was buried at St Peter and St Paul at Eye.