Early Life and Military Career
Collins was born in London, the third child of Henrietta Fraser and Royal Marines officer Arthur Tooker Collins (A Compendium of Irish Biography (1878), states he was born in County Offaly, then King's County). His paternal grandfather was the historian Arthur Collins. David went to Exeter Grammar School before joining the Royal Marines as an Ensign at the age of 14. He was promoted second lieutenant on 20 February 1771. He was serving aboard HMS Southampton when Queen Matilda of Denmark was dramatically rescued.
Collins went to North America early in 1775, and fought at the Battle of Bunker Hill, where the British suffered heavy casualties, but held the heights of Charlestown. He was promoted to first lieutenant the following week.
By November 1776, he was stationed at Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he met and then married Mary (Maria Stuart) Proctor, the daughter of Captain Charles Proctor, on 13 June 1777.
Read more about this topic: David Collins (governor)
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