Lord Collingwood letter sells for £1,764

Lord Collingwood took over from Lord Nelson during the Battle of Trafalgar after his death

A letter written by Adm Lord Cuthbert Collingwood one year on from the Battle of Trafalgar has sold for £1,764.

Born in 1748 in Newcastle, Lord Collingwood took control of the British fleet during the Battle of Trafalgar after Adm Lord Nelson was killed on 21 October 1805.

The letter is written to Adm Signey Sweeney on the first anniversary of the battle as he continued to lay siege to Cadiz in Spain.

Cathy Tait, from Lyon and Turnbull auction house, said it "paints a picture of Collingwood's position post-Trafalgar and Nelson's death".

Lord Collingwood married the Mayor of Newcastle's daughter, Sarah Blackett, in 1791. They had two daughters, little Sal and Mary Patience, and later moved to Morpeth.

His career at sea spanned more than four decades.

The letter was posted while Lord Collingwood was stationed off the coast of Spain

Dated 21 October 1806 on the "Ocean, off Cadiz", the letter details how more troops have just joined him and he has directed some to Malta and Sicily.

Graham Stirling, the former owner of the letter, said Lord Collingwood "doesn't get enough recognition".

"Obviously in London you have Trafalgar Square, you've got Nelson's column," he said.

"But not enough people know about Cuthbert Collingwood."

Lord Collingwood has a monument in Tynemouth

There is a statue of Lord Collingwood in Tynemouth, looking out to the North Sea.

Ms Tait said the auction house was "delighted to be able to handle and such a historically important letter".

The letter was estimated to sell for between £600 and £800 at Lyon and Turnbull, but ultimately went for £1,764, inclusive of buyer's premium.