A retired navy officer, uncle of Mrs. Woodward, who lived with her at Surbiton Cottage, Hampton.

"In person Captain Cuttwater was a tall, heavy man, on whose iron constitution hogsheads of Hollands and water seemed to have had no very powerful effect. He was much given to profane oaths.... All that was really remarkable in Uncle Bat's appearance was included in his nose. It had always been a generous, weighty, self-confident nose, inviting to itself more observation than any of its brother features demanded. But in latter years it had spread itself out in soft, porous red excrescences, to such an extent as to make it really deserving of considerable attention" - The Three Clerks.