Charles Inglis ( d . 1833 ) Charles Inglis ( died 27 February 1833 ) was an officer of the Royal Navy who saw service during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars , rising to the rank of post - captain . Inglis was born into a naval family , the son of an officer who would die a rear - admiral , and followed his father into the Navy . He rose through the ranks , and was a lieutenant aboard a frigate by 1798 , when his ship fought an action against a French frigate , and succeeded in capturing it . Inglis had to take over command during the battle when his captain was injured , and was subsequently highly praised for his efforts . He then went to the Mediterranean , serving on a frigate forming part of Rear - Admiral Horatio Nelson ' s squadron . He again acquitted himself well in battle , when his ship attacked a much larger French warship , delaying her enough for more British ships to arrive on the scene and force her surrender . Nelson himself congratulated Inglis for his part . Promoted to commander , and then captain , Inglis commanded several small cruisers , before becoming flag captain to Rear - Admiral George Martin . It was the start of an enduring relationship , with Martin retaining Inglis to be his flag captain on all his flagship s . He served in several further engagements with the French fleets in the Mediterranean during the war , and also off the coast of Portugal during Martin ' s time in command there . He returned to Martin ' s side as late as 1824 , when Martin became Commander - in - Chief at Portsmouth , flying his flag aboard , and with Inglis once more his flag captain . Stepping down on the expiration of Martin ' s post in 1827 , Inglis died several years later , in 1833 . Family and early career . Inglis was born the son of Captain Charles Inglis , a distinguished officer who had served in the navy since 1745 , and who rose to the rank of rear - admiral before his death in 1791 . He followed his father in embarking on a career in the navy , and was serving off the French coast as first lieutenant of the 32 - gun frigate in 1798 . While patrolling off the Penmarks on 29 June 1798 she and her consorts and came across the French frigate " Seine " . The " Seine " had crossed the Atlantic from the West Indies and was bound for a French port . The British squadron manoeuvred to cut her off from land , but the " Mermaid " , under Captain James Newman - Newman , soon lost contact , leaving the " Pique " under Captain David Milne and the " Jason " under Captain Charles Stirling , to chase down the Frenchman . After a chase lasting the entire day , all three ships ran aground on the French coast , but continued to bring their guns to fire upon each other , until HMS " Mermaid " returned to the scene , forcing the French to surrender . " Seine " was brought into the navy as HMS " Seine " . Stirling had been wounded early in the engagement and was forced to go below to seek treatment , leaving Inglis in command . Inglis acquitted himself well , prompting Stirling to write in his official report to Lord Bridport that ' no man could have filled my place with more credit to himself , and benefit to the state , than my First Lieutenant , Mr . Charles Inglis , whom I beg leave to recommend in the strongest manner for his bravery , skill and great exertions . ' Inglis then went out to the Mediterranean , taking part in the blockade of Malta as a lieutenant aboard the 36 - gun , serving under Captain Sir Henry Blackwood . He was present at the Action of 31 March 1800 , when the 80 - gun French " Guillaume Tell " attempted to escape Malta under Rear - Admiral Denis Decrès . The French ship ' s departure was observed by lookouts on " Penelope " and the frigate harassed the fleeing French ship until the larger ships under Captain Manley Dixon , and under Captain Sir Edward Berry , could come up and join the engagement . Worn down , the " Guillaume Tell " was forced to surrender after being dismasted . Rear - Admiral Horatio Nelson wrote personally to Inglis after the capture ; " My dear Sir , how fortunate I did not allow you to quit the Penelope to be junior Lieutenant in the Foudroyant ! You will now get your promotion in the pleasantest of all ways , by the gallant exertions of yourself and those brave friends who surrounded you on that glorious night . What a triumph for you - what a pleasure for me ! What happiness to have the Nile Fleet all taken , under my orders and regulations ! Blackwood ' s coming to me at Malta , and my keeping him there , was something more than chance . Ever my dear Sir , believe me your truly sincere friend , Nelson and Bronte . " Command . Inglis was promoted to commander after this event , and was given command of the sloop in October 1800 , which was then lying at Rhodes . She went on to take part in operations against the French forces in Egypt . He was given command of the 10 - gun cutter in February 1801 , and continued in the Mediterranean . He received the temporary captaincy of the 74 - gun in November 1801 , during the brief absence of her captain , Sir Thomas Williams , and commanded her in the Baltic Sea . Inglis was promoted to post - captain on 29 April 1802 and commissioned the 32 - gun in June 1802 . In 1807 he began a long association with Rear - Admiral George Martin , when he took over command of the 98 - gun and became Martin ' s flag captain . He followed Martin when he shifted his flag to the 80 - gun in 1808 and remained in command for the next four years , during which time Martin oversaw the capture of the Italian islands of Ischia and Procida in June 1809 . In October Martin was dispatched with a small squadron to chase several French ships that had escaped from Toulon under Rear - Admiral François Baudin . Martin and his force discovered the French and chased them to the harbour of Cette at the mouth of the Rhone , where two ships , the 80 - gun " Robuste " and the 74 - gun " Lion " ran aground . Martin made plans to attack them , but their crews abandoned and burnt them on 26 October before he could carry them out . After a promotion to vice - admiral on 31 July 1810 Martin took command of the naval forces at Palermo , which had been tasked with supporting Sir John Stuart ' s forces in Calabria . Martin returned to England and went ashore on striking his flag on 14 October 1810 , while Inglis remained with " Canopus " , which became the flagship of Rear - Admiral Charles Boyles between 1811 and 1812 , and was paid off into Ordinary in February 1812 . Martin returned to sea command of the forces off Lisbon in 1812 , flying his flag aboard the 78 - gun HMS " Impetueux " , once again with Inglis in command as his flag captain . Martin remained in this role for the next two years , shifting his flag to and then in 1813 . Martin struck his flag on 24 June 1814 , though Inglis ' s career at sea continued , taking command of the 104 - gun in May 1815 , though by October he had been succeeded by Captain Edmund Boger . Later life . He was captain of between 31 January 1824 and 30 April 1827 , during Martin ' s time as Port Admiral and Commander - in - Chief at Portsmouth . He died at Ryde , on the Isle of Wight , on 27 February 1833 . He had at least one son , also called Charles , who followed his father into the navy and had reached the rank of post - captain by 1829 . Notes . a . " Cruelle " was a former French ship , which had been captured off Toulon on 1 June 1800 by , and registered in the navy on 13 October of that year .