# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Cator, Bertie Cornelius

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​CATOR. (Captain, 1814. f-p., 14; h-p., 33.)
Bertie Cornelius Cator, born 26 Sept. 1787, at Beckenham, co. Kent, is fourth son of the late Joseph Cator, Esq., a merchant of high standing, by Diana, sister of the late Admiral Sir Albemarle Bertie, Bart., K.C.B., a descendant of the Dukes of Uncaster.
This officer entered the Navy in April, 1800, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Windsor Castle 98, commanded by his uncle, Capt. Albemarle Bertie, then Flag-Captain to Sir Chas. Cotton, on the Home station; where he afterwards joined in succession, as Midshipman, the Glory 98, Capt. Thos. Wells, Malta 80, Capt. A. Bertie, and Carysfort and Hydra frigates, each commanded by Capt. Geo. Mundy, under whom he appears, latterly in the Mediterranean, to have assisted at the capture of several heavy privateers and other armed vessels, besides participating in much boat-service. On 14 Dec. 1806, he was promoted, from the Ocean 98, flag-ship of Lord Collingwood off Cadiz, to be Acting-Lieutenant of the Delight brig, Capt. Philip Cosby Handfield, employed in conveying despatches to the Archipelago and Egypt, and also to England, previously to his return whither he proved the main instrument, during a tremendous hurricane, of rescuing the vessel from destruction. Being officially promoted, 3 March, 1807, Mr. Cator, on 2 June following, joined the Foudroyant 80, bearing the flag of his uncle off Brest, and next of Sir Wm. Sidney Smith off Lisbon; after which he was appointed, 16 April, 1808, to the Leopard 50, flag-ship at the Cape of Good Hope of Rear-Admiral Bertie, by whom he was placed in command, 22 Feb. and 21 Nov. 1809, of the Sapphire and Otter sloops. In the latter vessel we find him until April, 1810, blockading the Isles of France and Bourbon, and particularly distinguishing himself by his conduct at the capture of St. Rose. While on his passage soon afterwards from the Cape to the Mauritius, in charge of the Ranger transport, Mr. Cator was taken by two French frigates, but was fortunately exchanged in time to assume command of the Bombay Anna, a country ship, and co-operate in the subjugation of that island. Immediately on its conquest he was sent home, as Acting-Commander of the Action brig, with the duplicates of the despatches, and was in consequence promoted to the rank of Commander by commission dated 13 Feb. 1811, and presented with a gratuity of 500?. Continuing in the Action until his attainment of Post-rank, 7 June, 1814, Capt. Cator, during that period, carried despatches to Calcutta and back – escorted the Russian fleet from the Baltic to Gottenborg – landed with a party of marines, on one occasion, in Lynhaven Bay, on the coast of America, and destroyed a barrack with all its stores, after a short action with a body of dragoons and infantry, in which 9 of the enemy were taken, and several killed or wounded, with a loss to the British of only one marine badly wounded – commanded all the watering parties during the blockade of the Chesapeake in the winter of 1813 – and afterwards cruized off the coast of Norway with the Briseis brig under his orders. Capt. Cator, who had not been employed since his Post-promotion, accepted the Retirement 1 Oct. 1846.
He married, in 1816, Sophia, only child of Michael Atkinson, Esq., of Mount Mascal, North Cray, Kent, and Portland Place, London, formerly of the Hon.E.I.Co.’s Civil Service; by whom he has, with other issue, a youngest daughter, Jane Frances, who married, 1 June, 1842, Geo. Augustus Graham, youngest son of General Vernon, of Hilton Park, co. Stafford. Agents – Hallett and Robinson.