Alexander Colville, 7th Lord Colville of Culross
| Alexander Colville, 7th Lord Colville of Culross | |
|---|---|
| Born | 28 February 1717 Dundee, Scotland |
| Died | 21 May 1770 (aged 53) Drumsheugh, Scotland |
| Allegiance |
 Kingdom of Great Britain
|
| Service/branch |
 Royal Navy
|
| Rank | Vice-Admiral |
| Commands held |
HMS Leopard HMS Northumberland North American Station Devonport Command |
| Battles/wars |
War of Jenkins' Ear Seven Years' War |
Vice-Admiral Alexander Colville, 7th Lord of Culross (also spelled Colvill) (28 February 1717 – 21 May 1770) served as the Commodore and Commander in Chief of His Majesty's Ships and Vessels in North America from 1757 to 1762. Colville wrote a well-preserved series of detailed, well-written letters to various other military leaders, his family, the King, and other influential people. These letters have provided more historical information about that time period than many other sources available. His writing was so prolific that many of his letters still surface in antique shops from London, to Halifax to New York City. He is a poorly remembered, but important, contributor to the UK control of the North American seas and the battles of the Seven Years' War of 1756-1763.
Colville joined the Royal Navy as a volunteer in 1732. in 1739 he was present at the sieges of Portobelo in Panama and of Cartagena in Colombia during the War of Jenkins' Ear. In 1740 he was given command of HMS Leopard in which ship he captured or destroyed many enemy ships.
Colvill came to Canada during the summer of 1757 with the rank of Captain R.N., in command of the 70 gun HMS Northumberland, which formed part of Vice-Admiral Holburne's fleet ordered to attack Louisbourg. The attack was called off due to the strength of the French fleet, and because the British squadron had been caught and scattered by a September hurricane. On 14 November 1757, Colville assumed command at Halifax with the rank of Commodore as instructed by Holburne. He remained in Halifax over the winter flying his broad pendant in the Northumberland (Capt. Henry Martin, R.N.). On 19 March 1758, Rear-Admiral Sir Charles Hardy arrived at Halifax from England and took over the squadron with instructions from Vice-Admiral Edward Boscawen to blockade Louisbourg. Colville reverted to Captain and re-assumed command of the Northumberland in which he served under Boscawen at the successful Siege of Louisbourg. He returned to England with Boscawen, spent the winter there, and came out to Louisbourg again in the spring of 1759, arriving on 14 May still in command of the Northumberland.
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