Greenville Collins

Greenvile Collins (1643 – c. 25 March 1694) (also spelt Greenvill or Greenville) was an officer of the Royal Navy and prominent hydrographer, who compiled Great Britain's Coasting Pilot, the first survey of the country's coast undertaken by a Briton.

Collins served as a master on ships, joining the Sweepstakes in this position for a voyage to the south seas with Sir John Narborough between 1669 and 1671. The Admiralty appointed him as master of the Speedwell in 1676. John Wood commanded that ship, and intended to reach Japan by the then supposed North-East passage. Wood had served with Collins aboard the Sweepstake during Narborough's expedition, and held Collins in high regard. The Speedwell was wrecked off Novaya Zemlya, but the crew was rescued and returned aboard their consort ship, Prosperous. Collins's journal of the voyage brought him to the attention of King Charles II. Collins continued his naval career, serving as master of HMS Charles Galley on an expedition to Tangier with Admiral Narborough in 1677. From the Charles Galley he transferred first to HMS James, then HMS Newcastle and HMS Plymouth in turn, serving as master aboard each. After good service, he was gazetted as captain, and appointed to command the 18-gun HMS Larke. He again kept a journal, in which he recorded his encounters with the Algerine pirates and drew maps which showed his hydrographic skill.

Collins then undertook another Mediterranean tour as master of the Leopard; this voyage ran through the whole of 1680 and into the first few months of the year following. Henry Fitzroy, Charles II's natural son and later Duke of Grafton, accompanied Collins during that voyage. Earlier, Collins had gained the king's attention with the quality of his Arctic journal keeping.

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