Jeremiah Coghlan (Royal Navy officer)

Jeremiah Coghlan
Silhouette of Captain Coghlan
Nickname(s)	Intrepid Jerry
Born	c. 1776 Ireland
Died	4 March 1844 (aged 69)
Buried at	Ryde, St Thomas Church
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Navy
Rank	Post-Captain
Unit	HMS Indefatigable HMS Impetueux
Commands held	HMS Viper HMS Nimble HMS Renard HMS Elk HMS Euryalus HMS Caledonia HMS Alcmene HMS Forte (44)
Wars	French Revolutionary Wars Napoleonic Wars Action of 13 January 1797 Action of 5 November 1813
Awards	Companion of the Order of The Bath Freeman of the City of Cork
Relations	General Sir William Marcus Coghlan (son) Susan Pellew Coghlan (daughter)

Jeremiah Coghlan CB (c. 1776 – 4 March 1844) was a British naval officer. He was famous for his almost legendary feats of daring during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Despite his relatively humble background, he managed to rise from ship's boy to the rank of captain at the age of 34. This he achieved through notable acts of extraordinary courage and a succession of sea-fights which made him a celebrated hero, almost without equal, and he would later dine with both Nelson and Napoleon. Coghlan's career was initiated by his patron and close friend Sir Edward Pellew, after Pellew witnessed his heroic efforts during the rescue of the survivors of the East Indiaman Dutton.

Coghlan's exploits have been described as similar to plots for a collection of Hornblower novels Coghlan has also been compared to Hornblower because they were both protégés of Sir Edward Pellew aboard HMS Indefatigable.

From May 1804 he served in the West Indies, returning as Sir Edward Pellew's flag captain on HMS Caledonia eight years later.

Jeremiah Coghlan also holds the distinction of being the only person in the Royal Navy to have been promoted to Lieutenant after only four years service.

Jerry Coghlan originally came from Crookhaven in Ireland. (his brother Daniel was later the agent for Lloyds). He ran away to sea as a cabin boy, because, he later claimed, his mother had mistreated him.

In one incident his ship became stranded on the rocks in a storm near Mevagissey. Captain Smith (at home ashore) saw the stricken vessel and commandeered a fishing boat. He managed to rescue the master and the crew but whilst they were on their way back to safety they realised that the cabin boy was still missing. Captain Smith insisted on returning to search for him and they found him clinging with terror to the fore-topmast. The captain climbed the mast and managed to save the boy, who was the young Jerry Coghlan.