William Cathcart ( Royal Navy officer ) The Honourable William Cathcart , Master of Cathcart ( 30 June 1782 – 4 June 1804 ) was an officer in the Royal Navy during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars . Early life . He was the eldest son of Scottish peer William Cathcart , 10th Lord Cathcart ( 1755 – 1843 ) , later Earl Cathcart , and of Elizabeth Elliott ( 1760 – 1847 ) , the daughter of Andrew Elliot , the governor of New York . His younger brother was General , the Honourable Sir George Cathcart KCB DL ( 1794 – 1854 ) . Born in London , his birthdate is alternatively recorded as 13 June 1782 , according to other sources . Cathcart was educated in the paternal tradition at Eton College , Windsor , Berkshire , United Kingdom . Naval career . Cathcart joined the Royal Navy in August 1795 as a volunteer aboard , a thirty - eight gun , fifth rate vessel originally captured from the French in 1794 , being finally decommissioned in 1815 . Subsequently , he served on as a supernumerary ( 6 May – 6 August 1796 ) , Able Seaman on ( 21 August 1796 – 13 January 1797 ) , Midshipman ( 14 January – 12 November 1797 ) , Midshipman and Master ' s Mate on ( 13 November 1797 – 7 March 1799 ) , and Midshipman on ( 8 March – 2 December 1799 ) . He was made lieutenant on 2 September 1801 . He served on and was made master and commander on 14 April 1802 . This ship was highly active during in various theatres of operations and had a prolific service life , the log of which is preserved and is accessible online through the University of Glasgow . However , Cathcart ' s presence on board is , at present , only considered presumptive . He then took charge of the sloop , another addition from the French Navy in October 1802 . Having subsequently being appointed post captain , Cathcart took command of the frigate " Clorinde " , captured in 1803 at Santo Domingo . He died in the West Indies of yellow fever while commanding her , on 4 June 1804 at the age of 21 . He is reported to have served with distinction at the raids on Boulogne , a naval action of August , 1801 in which the Royal Navy attempted to destroy components of the French fleet in that port . Cathcart ' s role in the Raids on Boulogne . During the second raid on Boulogne , Cathcart is reported to have served with great distinction as part of a boat crew tasked with the destruction of a French naval target . At the time of this action , Cathcart is reported to have already served time in the Mediterranean and was presently serving with the inshore squadron off Brest as acting lieutenant on board the frigate , " Medusa " , to which Nelson had recently transferred his flag . For the attack on the enemy flotilla , Cathcart was placed in command of the ships ’ cutter . In recognition of Cathcart ' s conspicuous conduct during the attack , Captain Edward T . Parker sent the following despatch to Nelson on August 16 , 1801 , having being mortally wounded himself in the action and succumbing to his injuries a short time later , “ It is at this moment that I feel myself at a loss for words to do justice to the officers and crew of the Medusa who were in the boat with me , and to Lieut . Langford , the officers and crew of the same ship , who nobly seconded us in the barge , until all her crew were killed or wounded ; and to the Hon . Mr . Cathcart , who commanded the " Medusa ’ s " cutter , and sustained the attack with the greatest intrepidity , until the desperate situation I was left in obliged me to call him to the assistance of the sufferers in my boat . The boats were no sooner alongside than we attempted to board ; but a very strong netting , traced up to her lower yards , baffled all our endeavours , and an instantaneous discharge of her guns and small arms , from about 200 soldiers on her gunwale , knocked myself , Mr . Kirby , the Master of the " Medusa " , and Mr . Gore , a midshipman , with two thirds of the crew , upon our backs into the boat , all either killed or wounded desperately . The barge and cutter being on the outside , sheered off with the tide , but the flat boat , in which I was , hung alongside , and as there was not an officer or man left to govern her , must have fallen into the hands of the enemy , had not Mr . Cathcart taken her in tow , and carried her off ” . Having been rescued by Cathcart , worthy of note is the obituary for Parker which indicates the sacrifice of the failed attack in which Cathcart had heroically acquitted himself . “ The 26th instant at Deal , the gallant E . T . Parker , of the wounds he received in the second attack on the French flotilla off Boulogne . Every attention was paid to this meritorious Officer that his lamentable situation demanded . Earl St . Vincent , with that humanity which has ever marked his conduct , sent down his own surgeon to attend him ; and great hopes were entertained for a time that not only his valuable life , but his limb would be saved ; the flattering expectations of his friends were , however , disappointed ; he suffered amputation very high in the thigh on the 16th instant , one of the arteries burst , and the great effusion of blood reduced him to so low a state , that he only languished till the morning of the 27th , when “ His noble spirit sought the shades , to the great regret of every Briton , and particularly of his gallant Commander Lord Nelson . His memory will ever be dear to a grateful Nation in the defence of whose liberties he so bravely distinguished himself . ” Death . Cathcart was appointed as post - captain on HMS " Clorinde , " captured along with the " Surveillante " , after foundering on rocks while attempting escape from a joint British and Haitian siege of Santo Domingo , under the command of Emmanuel Halgan , in 1803 . The ship was recovered and was then transferred to Jamaica during which time Cathcart assumed charge of the ship . However , before he could ascend fully to his new command , Cathcart contracted yellow fever , a viral infection carried by mosquitoes , which proved fatal . The Cathcart genealogical entry for him states that , “ This gallant young officer fell a victim to the yellow fever , at Jamaica , when in command of the Clorinde frigate , with the rank of post - captain , 5th June 1804 , in his 22d year , unmarried . ”