150-728: Vice Admiral Sir Jahleel Brenton, 1st Baronet , KCB (22 August 1770 – 21 April 1844) was a British officer in the Royal Navy who served during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars . Brenton was born in British America but his family relocated to England after the outbreak of the American War of Independence . He followed his father into the Royal Navy, enrolling as a midshipman and reached
300-464: A personal flag . A vice-admiral flies a St George's cross defaced with a red disc in the hoist. The rank of vice-admiral itself is shown in its sleeve lace by a broad band with two narrower bands. Since 2001, it has been designated a three-star rank , when the number of stars on the shoulder board were increased to three. American War of Independence American and allied victory Great Britain cedes generally, all mainland territories east of
450-494: A raking fire . Brenton responded by dispatching the ships boats inshore to capture a vessel large enough to carry one of the Minerve's bower anchors to a distance suitable for warping . Meanwhile, the frigate's launch was sent to distract the gun brigs. The boats returned with a lugger which took the anchor on board, but a lack of wind prevented Minerve from making any headway. At dawn on 3 July, as Brenton contemplated scuttling
600-404: A French squadron of four ships that immediately gave chase. As the leading French frigate bore down on Spartan , it opened fire but was subsequently becalmed and surrounded by a thick shroud of smoke from its cannonade that enabled Spartan to escape. On 14 May, Brenton experienced what he described as "a disaster, which, in my estimation, far exceeded in severity any that had ever befallen me in
750-429: A Spanish privateer. Brenton was given permission to take Speedy to Port Mahon where his brother was undergoing treatment but upon arrival discovered he had died from his injuries. Brenton's promotion to post captain was confirmed on 25 April 1800 by Vice Admiral Lord Keith , who had superseded St Vincent as commander-in-chief of the fleet. Command of Speedy was subsequently handed over to Lord Cochrane and Brenton
900-548: A Vice-Admiral changed a number of times during this period. In the Royal Navy, the rank of vice-admiral should be distinguished from the office of Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom , which is an Admiralty position usually held by a retired full admiral, and that of Vice-Admiral of the Coast , a now obsolete office dealing with naval administration in each of the maritime counties. Vice-admirals are entitled to fly
1050-546: A brief skirmish at Lexington, followed by the full-scale Battles of Lexington and Concord. British troops suffered around 300 casualties before withdrawing to Boston , which was then besieged by the militia. In May 1775, 4,500 British reinforcements arrived under Generals William Howe , John Burgoyne , and Sir Henry Clinton . On June 17, they seized the Charlestown Peninsula at the Battle of Bunker Hill ,
1200-549: A castle at the harbour entrance. The following month, Spartan and Mercury entered the port of Cesenatico , destroyed the shore batteries and cut out twelve merchant vessel and burnt another. Shortly afterwards, Brenton was dispatched to the coast of Croatia to assist with the Austrian offensive against the French garrison on the island of Lošinj . After embarking a detachment of Austrian soldiers, Brenton launched an assault on
1350-654: A command and in March he was appointed captain of the frigate HMS Minerve . However, soon after arriving on the ship he was struck on the head by a falling block and severely concussed. Unable to resume command, he returned to his home in Bath to recover while another captain was given temporary command of Minerve . Although not fully recovered from his injury, Brenton was anxious to resume command and returned to Minerve in June 1802. War had been declared against France and Brenton
1500-751: A customs vessel in the June 1772 Gaspee Affair , then came to a head in 1773. A banking crisis led to the near-collapse of the East India Company , which dominated the British economy; to support it, Parliament passed the Tea Act , giving it a trading monopoly in the Thirteen Colonies . Since most American tea was smuggled by the Dutch, the act was opposed by those who managed the illegal trade, while being seen as yet another attempt to impose
1650-457: A daughter. Stewart was born to a Loyalist family from Maryland that had been exiled to Nova Scotia where she first met Brenton when he was a midshipman on HMS Dido . Brenton had waited until he reached post captain rank before proposing and his arrival in England was the first time they had seen each other in thirteen years. Escalating tensions with France in 1803 prompted Brenton to apply for
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#17327721804491800-412: A destructive triple-shotted broadside which caused carnage among the troops crowded on the enemy deck and exchanged fire with Fama and Sparviero as they passed in succession. Achille and the gunboats altered course to avoid the British frigate but Brenton swung Spartan round to give them her port broadside while firing her starboard guns into the larger Neapolitan ships. Instead of turning to support
1950-652: A distinguished service record. In 1829, aged 59, Brenton returned to active service as captain of HMS Donegal which had been fitted out as a guard ship at the Nore . Less than a year later Brenton was promoted to rear admiral in July 1830. However, HMS Donegal was unsuitable for a flagship and Brenton consequently returned to shore on half pay. In 1831 the First Lord of the Admiralty, Sir James Graham , offered Brenton
2100-546: A frontal assault in which they suffered over 1,000 casualties. Dismayed at the costly attack which had gained them little, Gage appealed to London for a larger army, but instead was replaced as commander by Howe. On June 14, 1775, Congress took control of Patriot forces outside Boston, and Congressional leader John Adams nominated Washington as commander-in-chief of the newly formed Continental Army . On June 16, Hancock officially proclaimed him "General and Commander in Chief of
2250-500: A lengthy period of captivity. Days after their capture Brenton and his crew were marched 500 miles (800 km) inland through France to Epinal and in November, Brenton was given parole and relocated to the prisoner of war depot at Verdun . During this period Brenton began to "consider more attentively the nature of the religion I professed" and developed strong evangelical beliefs. He organised regular church services, assisted with
2400-473: A letter to Lord Mulgrave , First Lord of the Admiralty , wrote "I cannot say too much to your Lordship of the zeal and talent of Captain Brenton: of these he gives proof whenever he is employed; and he seems to be everywhere." Early in 1810, Spartan was attached to Rear Admiral George Martin's squadron at Palermo and was given orders to cruise between Sicily and Naples . While cruising in company with
2550-455: A logistically challenging and dangerous operation. Meanwhile, the Hessians were involved in numerous clashes with small bands of Patriots and were often aroused by false alarms at night in the weeks before the actual Battle of Trenton . By Christmas they were tired, while a heavy snowstorm led their commander, Colonel Johann Rall , to assume no significant attack would occur. At daybreak on
2700-561: A number of philanthropic interests, assisting with the establishment of the Society for the Relief of Shipwrecked Mariners and the creation of Sailors' Home, a boarding house in London that held daily religious services and sought to "preserve sailors from the temptations and deprivations to which they are exposed in London on returning from the sea." He also wrote pamphlets such as An Appeal to
2850-580: A rearguard. Howe met with a delegation from the Second Continental Congress at the September Staten Island Peace Conference , but it failed to conclude peace, largely because the British delegates only had the authority to offer pardons and could not recognize independence. On September 15, Howe seized control of New York City when the British landed at Kip's Bay and unsuccessfully engaged
3000-525: A return to active service. However, he was dismayed to learn that he had been appointed second lieutenant on a store ship , HMS Alliance , a position he described as "disgraceful and degrading to an officer, who had been for some time first lieutenant of a frigate". His protests were dismissed by the Admiralty and in March 1796, Alliance set sail with a large convoy headed for the Mediterranean. Arriving off Corsica later that year, Brenton wrote to
3150-494: A return to active service. In March 1812 he was given command of the third rate HMS Stirling Castle which was at Chatham Dockyard preparing to join the Channel Fleet. However, Brenton was troubled by his wound and just six months later he reluctantly resigned his commission, explaining in his memoirs: "As the winter approached, I felt this inconvenience of being lame more sensibly, as it increased my anxiety respecting
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#17327721804493300-828: A riot started in Boston when the authorities seized the sloop Liberty on suspicion of smuggling. Tensions escalated further in March 1770 when British troops fired on rock-throwing civilians, killing five in what became known as the Boston Massacre . The Massacre coincided with the partial repeal of the Townshend Acts by the Tory-based North Ministry , which came to power in January 1770 and remained in office until 1781. North insisted on retaining duty on tea to enshrine Parliament's right to tax
3450-648: A second attack captured Fort Mifflin on November 16, while Fort Mercer was abandoned two days later when Cornwallis breached the walls. His supply lines secured, Howe tried to tempt Washington into giving battle, but after inconclusive skirmishing at the Battle of White Marsh from December 5 to 8, he withdrew to Philadelphia for the winter. On December 19, the Americans followed suit and entered winter quarters at Valley Forge ; while Washington's domestic opponents contrasted his lack of battlefield success with Gates' victory at Saratoga, foreign observers such as Frederick
3600-471: A series of notable exploits while commanding a squadron of frigates in the Adriatic, and assisted with the capture several French Ionian Islands . In May 1810, he fought a successful action against a Neapolitan squadron near Naples in which he was severely wounded by enemy grapeshot . Brenton was rewarded with a baronetcy and a knighthood but his wound troubled him for the rest of his life. In 1814 he
3750-461: A sloop that he had previously served in and remembered with fondness. Brenton's command of Speedy offered him several opportunities to distinguish himself. In February 1799 Speedy was escorting a convoy of supply ships that were ambushed by 23 Spanish gunboats in the Bay of Gibraltar. He gave orders for the convoy close up and make all sail for Gibraltar while he brought Speedy between the convoy and
3900-480: A struggle with Britain, but also split between American Patriots and American Loyalists. Patriots generally supported independence from Britain and a new national union in Congress, while Loyalists remained faithful to British rule. Estimates of numbers vary, one suggestion being the population as a whole was split evenly between committed Patriots, committed Loyalists, and those who were indifferent. Others calculate
4050-543: A temporary position in Vice Admiral William Waldegrave 's flagship HMS Barfleur . On 14 February 1797, Barfleur was part of Jervis's fleet that intercepted a larger Spanish fleet at the Battle of Cape St Vincent off the southern coast of Portugal. The British achieved a morale boosting victory that enabled them to return to the Mediterranean and confine the Spanish fleet to Cadiz until
4200-618: A threat to liberty in general. This led to increased sympathy for the Patriot cause locally, in the British Parliament, and in the London press. Throughout the 18th century, the elected lower houses in the colonial legislatures gradually wrested power from their governors. Dominated by smaller landowners and merchants, these assemblies now established ad-hoc provincial legislatures, variously called congresses, conventions, and conferences, effectively replacing royal control. With
4350-580: Is a flag officer rank of the Royal Navy and equates to the NATO rank code OF-8 . It is immediately superior to the rear admiral rank and is subordinate to the full admiral rank. The equivalent rank in the British Army and Royal Marines is lieutenant-general ; and in the Royal Air Force , it is air marshal . The Royal Navy has had vice-admirals since at least the 16th century. When
4500-401: Is also one of the first times that the colonies were referred to as "United States", rather than the more common United Colonies . On July 2, Congress voted for independence and published the declaration on July 4. At this point, the revolution ceased to be an internal dispute over trade and tax policies and had evolved into a civil war, since each state represented in Congress was engaged in
4650-695: The Appalachian Mountains also avoided the cost of an expensive military occupation. The Royal Proclamation of 1763 was designed to achieve these aims by refocusing colonial expansion north into Nova Scotia and south into Florida , with the Mississippi River as the dividing line between British and Spanish possessions in America. Settlement was tightly restricted beyond the 1763 limits, and claims west of this line, including by Virginia and Massachusetts , were rescinded despite
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4800-478: The Battle of Brandywine on September 11, then allowing him to withdraw in good order. After dispersing an American detachment at Paoli on September 20, Cornwallis occupied Philadelphia on September 26, with the main force of 9,000 under Howe based just to the north at Germantown . Washington attacked them on October 4, but was repulsed. To prevent Howe's forces in Philadelphia being resupplied by sea,
4950-511: The Battle of Sullivan's Island on June 28, 1776, but it failed. A shortage of gunpowder led Congress to authorize a naval expedition against the Bahamas to secure ordnance stored there. On March 3, 1776, an American squadron under the command of Esek Hopkins landed at the east end of Nassau and encountered minimal resistance at Fort Montagu . Hopkins' troops then marched on Fort Nassau . Hopkins had promised governor Montfort Browne and
5100-710: The British West Indies and Britain and barred New England ships from the Newfoundland cod fisheries . The increase in tension led to a scramble for control of militia stores, which each assembly was legally obliged to maintain for defense. On April 19, a British attempt to secure the Concord arsenal culminated in the Battles of Lexington and Concord , which began the Revolutionary War. After
5250-852: The Burning of Norfolk on January 1, 1776. The siege of Savage's Old Fields began on November 19 in South Carolina between Loyalist and Patriot militias, and the Loyalists were subsequently driven out of the colony in the Snow Campaign . Loyalists were recruited in North Carolina to reassert British rule in the South, but they were decisively defeated in the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge . A British expedition sent to reconquer South Carolina launched an attack on Charleston in
5400-969: The Continental Army and commanded by George Washington defeated the British Army . The conflict was fought in North America , the Caribbean , and the Atlantic Ocean . The war ended with the Treaty of Paris (1783) , which resulted in Great Britain ultimately recognizing the independence and sovereignty of the United States. After the British Empire gained dominance in North America with victory over
5550-637: The Continental Association ; based on a draft prepared by the First Virginia Convention in August, the association instituted economic sanctions and a full boycott of goods against Britain. While denying its authority over internal American affairs, a faction led by James Duane and future Loyalist Joseph Galloway insisted Congress recognize Parliament's right to regulate colonial trade. Expecting concessions by
5700-578: The Delaware River and winning small but significant victories at Trenton and Princeton . In the summer of 1777, as Howe was poised to capture Philadelphia , the Continental Congress fled to Baltimore . In October 1777, a separate northern British force under the command of John Burgoyne was forced to surrender at Saratoga in an American victory that proved crucial in convincing France and Spain that an independent United States
5850-639: The Gulf of Naples where they discovered a Neapolitan squadron consisting of the frigate Cerere , the corvette Fama and the armed brigs Achille and Sparviero . Brenton immediately set a course to intercept the squadron but to his dismay they escaped to the safety of the Port of Naples . The following day, believing that the Neapolitan ships would decline to leave the port unless the odds were heavily in their favour, he ordered Success to sail out of sight beyond
6000-641: The Iroquois for their support, while US envoys urged them to remain neutral. Aware of Native American leanings toward the British and fearing an Anglo-Indian attack from Canada, Congress authorized a second invasion in April 1775. After the defeat at the Battle of Quebec on December 31, the Americans maintained a loose blockade of the city until they retreated on May 6, 1776. A second defeat at Trois-Rivières on June 8 ended operations in Quebec. British pursuit
6150-768: The Mississippi River , south of the Great Lakes , and north of the Floridas to the United States . [REDACTED] Great Britain Combatants The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence , was an armed conflict that was part of the broader American Revolution , in which American Patriot forces organized as
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6300-774: The Navy List was restored and he was duly promoted to vice admiral . He subsequently moved to Casterton and then to Elford where he wrote a memoir of his brother, Captain Edward Pelham Brenton. He eventually settled in Leamington Spa where in 1844 his health deteriorated and he died of "general debility" on 21 April. He was buried in New Street Cemetery, Leamington Spa. His baronetcy passed to his son, Lancelot Charles Lee Brenton . Vice-admiral (Royal Navy) A vice-admiral ( VAdm )
6450-760: The Royal Swedish Navy which was engaged in operations against Russia in the Russo-Swedish War . Although Brenton arrived too late to take part in the Swedish navy's break-out at the Battle of Vyborg Bay in July 1790, he was present at the Swede's decisive victory at the Battle of Svensksund five days later. Peace was declared soon afterwards and although King Gustav offered his British officers continued employment, Brenton returned to England as mounting tensions between Spain and Britain had increased
6600-469: The Second Continental Congress appointed the Committee of Five : Thomas Jefferson , John Adams , Benjamin Franklin , Roger Sherman , and Robert Livingston . The declaration was written almost exclusively by Jefferson. Identifying inhabitants of the Thirteen Colonies as "one people", the declaration simultaneously dissolved political links with Britain, while including a long list of alleged violations of "English rights" committed by George III . This
6750-413: The Sugar Act and Stamp Act , which imposed additional taxes on the colonies to pay for defending the western frontier. In July 1765, the Whigs formed the First Rockingham ministry , which repealed the Stamp Act and reduced tax on foreign molasses to help the New England economy, but re-asserted Parliamentary authority in the Declaratory Act . However, this did little to end the discontent; in 1768,
6900-506: The Treaty of Aranjuez , though Spain did not formally ally with the Americans. Howe's replacement Henry Clinton intended to take the war against the Americans into the Southern Colonies . Despite some initial success, British general Cornwallis was besieged by a Franco-American force in Yorktown in September and October 1781. Cornwallis was forced to surrender in October. The British wars with France and Spain continued for another two years, but fighting largely ceased in North America. In
7050-520: The colonial legislatures agreed on the boundaries but disagreed on where to set them. Many settlers resented the restrictions entirely, and enforcement required permanent garrisons along the frontier, which led to increasingly bitter disputes over who should pay for them. Although directly administered by the Crown , acting through a local governor, the colonies were largely governed by native-born property owners. While external affairs were managed by London, colonial militia were funded locally but with
7200-446: The hired armed ship Queen . His father was promoted to post-captain later that year and Brenton followed him to his new command, the 26-gun sixth rate HMS Termagant , until May 1782 when the ship was taken out of service for a refit . Following the Peace of Paris in 1783, Brenton resumed his studies in England at a maritime school in Chelsea, London . In 1785 he moved with his family to Saint-Omer , France, and became adept in
7350-423: The royal yacht HMY Dorset before he was appointed naval commissioner at the Cape of Good Hope . Brenton was made a Knight Commander of the Order of Bath in January 1815 and in March he arrived with his wife at the Cape of Good Hope. Although his wound continued to aggrieve him he oversaw the expansion of the dockyard at Simon's Town and became a prominent advocate for the rights of black dockyard workers and
7500-420: The "milder climate" of Tours to aid his recovery and found his health greatly improved: Brenton later described his time there as the "happiest part of my life". In December 1806, after three and a half years in captivity, Brenton was exchanged for Captain Louis-Antoine-Cyprien Infernet —nephew of Marshal André Masséna —who had been captured at the Battle of Trafalgar . After arriving back in England, Brenton
7650-445: The 26th, the American Patriots surprised and overwhelmed Rall and his troops, who lost over 20 killed including Rall, while 900 prisoners, German cannons and supplies were captured. The Battle of Trenton restored the American army's morale, reinvigorated the Patriot cause, and dispelled their fear of what they regarded as Hessian "mercenaries". A British attempt to retake Trenton was repulsed at Assunpink Creek on January 2; during
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#17327721804497800-402: The American cause. The reduced Continental Army had dwindled to fewer than 5,000 men and was reduced further when enlistments expired at the end of the year. Popular support wavered, and morale declined. On December 20, 1776, the Continental Congress abandoned the revolutionary capital of Philadelphia and moved to Baltimore , where it remained until February 27, 1777. Loyalist activity surged in
7950-526: The Americans at the Battle of Harlem Heights the following day. On October 18, Howe failed to encircle the Americans at the Battle of Pell's Point , and the Americans withdrew. Howe declined to close with Washington's army on October 28 at the Battle of White Plains , and instead attacked a hill that was of no strategic value. Washington's retreat isolated his remaining forces and the British captured Fort Washington on November 16. The British victory there amounted to Washington's most disastrous defeat with
8100-483: The British Nation on Behalf of her Sailors and The Hope of the Navy, or, The True Source of Discipline and Efficiency which suggested improvements for sailors welfare and argued for the importance of their religious instruction. Suffering from frequent attacks of gout , Brenton retired from his position at Greenwich Hospital in 1840. The assurances made to Brenton by the King had been overlooked after his death in 1837, but soon after his retirement Brenton's seniority on
8250-449: The British fleet to abandon the Mediterranean, where it was in danger of becoming seriously outnumbered, and retreat to Gibraltar . While at anchor off Rosia Bay on 10 December, Gibraltar was caught in a storm that drove her on to rocks on the western shore of the Bay of Gibraltar before she was blown across to safety in the Strait of Gibraltar . The ship was sent back to England for extensive repairs to her hull and Jervis gave Brenton
8400-407: The Canadians. In Virginia, Dunmore's Proclamation on November 7, 1775, promised freedom to any slaves who fled their Patriot masters and agreed to fight for the Crown. British forces were defeated at Great Bridge on December 9 and took refuge on British ships anchored near Norfolk. When the Third Virginia Convention refused to disband its militia or accept martial law, Lord Dunmore ordered
8550-415: The Channel Fleet in May when Samuarez was ordered to lead a squadron down to Cadiz to watch the movements of the Spanish fleet. After receiving news that a French squadron of three ships of the line and one frigate had arrived at Algeciras intending to link up with the Spanish fleet at Cadiz, Samuarez sailed directly for the anchorage with his six ships of the line and launched an attack on 6 July. Although
8700-584: The Colonial Secretary Lord Germain , proposing a limited offensive against Philadelphia, while a second force moved down the Hudson from Canada. Burgoyne supplied several alternatives, all of which gave him responsibility for the offensive, with Howe remaining on the defensive. The option selected required him to lead the main force south from Montreal down the Hudson Valley, while a detachment under Barry St. Leger moved east from Lake Ontario. The two would meet at Albany , leaving Howe to decide whether to join them. Reasonable in principle, this did not account for
8850-425: The Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet , Admiral Sir John Jervis , to appeal for a more favourable appointment. Jervis was sympathetic with Brenton's plight and installed him as first lieutenant on the 80-gun third-rate HMS Gibraltar which was part of a squadron undertaking a close blockade of Toulon during the summer of 1796. In September 1796, Spain's entry into the war as an ally of France prompted
9000-541: The Culper Spy Ring substantially increased the effective allocation and deployment of Continental regiments in the field. Throughout the war, Washington spent more than 10 percent of his total military funds on military intelligence . Washington split the Continental Army into positions on Manhattan and across the East River in western Long Island. On August 27 at the Battle of Long Island , Howe outflanked Washington and forced him back to Brooklyn Heights , but he did not attempt to encircle Washington's forces. Through
9150-410: The French defences and captured the island, suffering only three wounded. In June Spartan returned to Malta for repairs and was subsequently attached to a squadron led by Captain John Spranger of HMS Warrior that was sent on an expedition to capture the Ionian Islands . Encountering only minimal resistance, the British squadron swiftly took the islands of Zante and Cephalonia before Spartan
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#17327721804499300-410: The French in the Seven Years' War in 1763, tensions and disputes arose between Great Britain and the Thirteen Colonies over a variety of issues, including the Stamp and Townshend Acts . The resulting British military occupation led to the Boston Massacre in 1770. Among further tensions, the British Parliament imposed the Intolerable Acts in mid-1774. A British attempt to disarm the Americans and
9450-418: The French language. Brenton developed a talent for painting and his parents considered sending him to Italy to develop his skills before he made the decision to persevere with a naval career. Brenton returned to England with his family in 1787 and he was appointed to the 36-gun frigate HMS Perseverance under the command of Captain William Young , a friend of his father. However, less than two months later
9600-445: The French squadron, which had been reinforced by six Spanish ships of the line, departed Algeciras and Samuarez's squadron set off in pursuit. The British subsequently earned a notable victory at the Second Battle of Algeciras but Caesar did not play a significant part in the battle. After peace was declared in March 1802, Brenton obtained permission to return to England where he married Isabella Stewart, with whom he had two sons and
9750-605: The Great were equally impressed with Germantown, which demonstrated resilience and determination. Over the winter, poor conditions, supply problems and low morale resulted in 2,000 deaths, with another 3,000 unfit for duty due to lack of shoes. However, Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben took the opportunity to introduce Prussian Army drill and infantry tactics to "model companies" in each Continental Army regiment, who then instructed their home units. Despite Valley Forge being only twenty miles away, Howe made no effort to attack their camp, an action some critics argue could have ended
9900-458: The Libyan coast. Upon returning to Malta in April Brenton was given command of a squadron of frigates in the Adriatic and embarked on a highly active period over the following year. Receiving the temporary rank of commodore , Brenton entered the Adriatic with Captain William Hoste 's HMS Amphion and HMS Mercury commanded by Captain Henry Duncan , and attacked the port at Pesaro in April, capturing 13 merchant vessels before blowing up
10050-513: The Moroccan coast off Tétouan to make hasty repairs. Arriving back in Gibraltar the following day, Brenton received widespread praise for his conduct: the Governor of Gibraltar, General Charles O'Hara , urged the Admiralty to award Brenton a promotion and Rear Admiral Horatio Nelson praised Brenton's "uncommon skill and gallantry". Just days after his triumph, however, Brenton received news his brother, Lieutenant James Wallace Brenton of HMS Peterel , had been severely wounded during an action with
10200-399: The North administration, Congress authorized the extralegal committees and conventions of the colonial legislatures to enforce the boycott; this succeeded in reducing British imports by 97% from 1774 to 1775. However, on February 9 Parliament declared Massachusetts to be in a state of rebellion and instituted a blockade of the colony. In July, the Restraining Acts limited colonial trade with
10350-411: The Patriot victory at Concord, moderates in Congress led by John Dickinson drafted the Olive Branch Petition , offering to accept royal authority in return for George III mediating in the dispute. However, since the petition was immediately followed by the Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms , Colonial Secretary Lord Dartmouth viewed the offer as insincere and refused to present
10500-434: The Patriots erected Fort Mifflin and nearby Fort Mercer on the east and west banks of the Delaware respectively, and placed obstacles in the river south of the city. This was supported by a small flotilla of Continental Navy ships on the Delaware, supplemented by the Pennsylvania State Navy , commanded by John Hazelwood . An attempt by the Royal Navy to take the forts in the October 20 to 22 Battle of Red Bank failed;
10650-399: The Royal Navy. At the outbreak of the American War of Independence , Brenton's father—at that time a lieutenant—remained loyal to the British and the Brenton family was forced to flee Rhode Island for England in 1780. Brenton briefly attended a school in Enfield, Middlesex and in 1781, aged 11, he enrolled as a midshipman in the Royal Navy under his father who had been assigned to command
10800-436: The Spanish ships ran for a small sandy bay where they moored in a single line bow to stern. Finding that no progress had been made after engaging the Spanish ships for over two hours while under sail, Brenton anchored Speedy within pistol shot of the central Spanish vessel and exchanged a cannonade for three-quarters of an hour, inducing the Spanish to abandon their ships and make for the shore. Speedy had suffered two wounded;
10950-494: The Spanish ships were taken as prizes and brought to Gibraltar. On 6 November Speedy was standing off Europa Point while escorting a merchant vessel and a transport ship laden with wine for the British fleet when twelve Spanish gun boats raced out from Algeciras to launch an opportunistic attack. Although greatly outgunned, Brenton bore down on the enemy ships and opened fire, enabling the merchant ship to escape to safety. The gunboats then concentrated their efforts on capturing
11100-814: The Thirteen Colonies—;the Northern Theater and the Southern Theater —and a smaller but strategically important third one west of the Appalachian Mountains . On April 14, 1775, Sir Thomas Gage , Commander-in-Chief, North America and Governor of Massachusetts , received orders to take action against the Patriots. He decided to destroy militia ordnance stored at Concord, Massachusetts , and capture John Hancock and Samuel Adams , who were considered
11250-654: The Treaty of Paris, ratified on September 3, 1783, Great Britain acknowledged the sovereignty and independence of the United States, bringing the American Revolutionary War to an end. The Treaties of Versailles resolved Great Britain's conflicts with France and Spain and forced Great Britain to cede Tobago , Senegal , and small territories in India to France, and Menorca , West Florida and East Florida to Spain. The French and Indian War, part of
11400-518: The Whigs, Parliament initially rejected the imposition of coercive measures by 170 votes, fearing an aggressive policy would drive the Americans towards independence. However, by the end of 1774 the collapse of British authority meant both Lord North and George III were convinced war was inevitable. After Boston, Gage halted operations and awaited reinforcements; the Irish Parliament approved
11550-634: The area of food. This slowed Burgoyne's progress and forced him to send out large foraging expeditions; on one of these, more than 700 British troops were captured at the Battle of Bennington on August 16. St Leger moved east and besieged Fort Stanwix ; despite defeating an American relief force at the Battle of Oriskany on August 6, he was abandoned by his Indian allies and withdrew to Quebec on August 22. Now isolated and outnumbered by Gates, Burgoyne continued onto Albany rather than retreating to Fort Ticonderoga, reaching Saratoga on September 13. He asked Clinton for support while constructing defenses around
11700-657: The army of the United Colonies." He assumed command on July 3, preferring to fortify Dorchester Heights outside Boston rather than assaulting it. In early March 1776, Colonel Henry Knox arrived with heavy artillery acquired in the Capture of Fort Ticonderoga . Under cover of darkness, on March 5, Washington placed these on Dorchester Heights, from where they could fire on the town and British ships in Boston Harbor. Fearing another Bunker Hill, Howe evacuated
11850-578: The badly damaged Fama was towed to safety by the gunboats. Spartan had suffered heavy losses with ten killed and 22 wounded while Neapolitan losses were estimated to be around 130 killed and wounded. Returning to Malta the following week, Brenton was given a hero's welcome and received news he had been awarded the Order of Saint Ferdinand and of Merit by the Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies . Brenton
12000-564: The base for American naval operations. After regrouping at Halifax in Nova Scotia, Howe set sail for New York in June 1776 and began landing troops on Staten Island near the entrance to New York Harbor on July 2. The Americans rejected Howe's informal attempt to negotiate peace on July 30; Washington knew that an attack on the city was imminent and realized that he needed advance information to deal with disciplined British regular troops. On August 12, 1776, Patriot Thomas Knowlton
12150-625: The camp to a "squalid hell" and supplies were dangerously low. Burgoyne capitulated on October 17; around 6,222 soldiers, including German forces commanded by General Friedrich Adolf Riedesel , surrendered their arms before being taken to Boston, where they were to be transported to England. After securing additional supplies, Howe made another attempt on Philadelphia by landing his troops in Chesapeake Bay on August 24. He now compounded failure to support Burgoyne by missing repeated opportunities to destroy his opponent, defeating Washington at
12300-470: The city on March 17 without further loss and sailed to Halifax, Nova Scotia , while Washington moved south to New York City. Beginning in August 1775, American privateers raided towns in Nova Scotia, including Saint John , Charlottetown , and Yarmouth . In 1776, John Paul Jones and Jonathan Eddy attacked Canso and Fort Cumberland respectively. British officials in Quebec began negotiating with
12450-430: The civilian inhabitants that their lives and property would not be in any danger if they offered no resistance; they complied. Hopkins captured large stores of powder and other munitions that was so great he had to impress an extra ship in the harbor to transport the supplies back home, when he departed on March 17. A month later, after a brief skirmish with HMS Glasgow , they returned to New London, Connecticut ,
12600-464: The colonial assemblies; combined with the lack of activity by Gage, opposition to the use of foreign troops allowed the Patriots to take control of the legislatures. Support for independence was boosted by Thomas Paine 's pamphlet Common Sense , which was published on January 10, 1776, and argued for American self-government and was widely reprinted. To draft the Declaration of Independence ,
12750-587: The colonies; the amount was minor, but ignored the fact it was that very principle Americans found objectionable. In April 1772, colonialists staged the first American tax revolt in Weare , New Hampshire against the British royal authority later referred to as the Pine Tree Riot . This occurrence would later inspire the design of the Pine Tree Flag . Tensions escalated following the destruction of
12900-659: The committee shared information and built alliances through secret correspondence, as well as employing secret agents in Europe to gather intelligence, conduct undercover operations, analyze foreign publications, and initiate Patriot propaganda campaigns. Paine served as secretary, while Benjamin Franklin and Silas Deane , sent to France to recruit military engineers, were instrumental in securing French aid in Paris. The Revolutionary War included two principal campaign theaters within
13050-500: The dead were Brenton's first and second lieutenants. A court of enquiry was held to investigate the disastrous attack on the polacre but the court cleared Brenton of any blame, accepting Brenton's explanation that his zealous first lieutenant had failed to adhere to instructions to turn back if the polacre was armed. However, shortly afterwards Brenton was summoned to a meeting with the commander in chief, Vice Admiral Lord Collingwood , who rebuked Brenton and expressed his dissatisfaction at
13200-427: The duty of the ship, from a conviction that I could not use the same activity I had formerly possessed". Brenton asked the Admiralty for a land-based position and in January 1814 he was appointed commissioner of the dockyard at Port Mahon . However, just months after his arrival, peace was declared with France and the dockyard, deemed surplus to requirements, was abandoned by the British. Brenton briefly took command of
13350-525: The end of the war. Jervis held Brenton in high regard and in August 1797 he transferred him to his flagship HMS Ville de Paris . The British fleet commenced a close blockade of Cadiz and in Spring 1798 Brenton's actions while commanding a detachment of boats under attack from Spanish gunboats earned enthusiastic praise from Jervis. As a consequence he was made commander of HMS Speedy in September 1798,
13500-484: The ending of the French threat in 1763, the legislatures expected less taxation, not more. At the same time, the huge debt incurred by the Seven Years' War and demands from British taxpayers for cuts in government expenditure meant Parliament expected the colonies to fund their own defense. The new taxes levied on subjects in the colonies proved highly burdensome in colonies such as North Carolina , particularly for
13650-529: The enemy ships whereupon she was set upon by the entire Spanish flotilla. After ensuring the convoy had reached safety, Brenton broke off and joined them under the gun batteries of Gibraltar. He subsequently received the congratulations of Jervis—now titled Earl St Vincent—and the Governor of Gibraltar . Speedy was sailing off Gibraltar again on 9 August with the British privateer Defender when they spotted three armed Spanish xebecs . When Speedy gave chase,
13800-641: The establishment of schools teaching literacy and seamanship, and took a leading role in improving the welfare of the common sailors who were separated from the officers and distributed among various depots across north east France. In April 1805 he obtained permission for his wife and their two-year-old son to join him in France. They relocated to lodgings in Charny-sur-Meuse but Brenton began to suffer from poor health and bouts of anxiety and depression. Brenton and his family were granted permission to move to
13950-716: The exception of Georgia , twelve colonies sent representatives to the First Continental Congress to agree on a unified response to the crisis. Many of the delegates feared that an all-out boycott would result in war and sent a Petition to the King calling for the repeal of the Intolerable Acts. However, after some debate, on September 17, 1774, Congress endorsed the Massachusetts Suffolk Resolves and on October 20 passed
14100-519: The exception of a minor skirmishing between the two armies which continued until March, Howe made no attempt to attack the Americans. The 1776 campaign demonstrated that regaining New England would be a prolonged affair, which led to a change in British strategy to isolating the north by taking control of the Hudson River , allowing them to focus on the south where Loyalist support was believed to be substantial. In December 1776, Howe wrote to
14250-562: The face of enemy fire. The successes led to predictions that the British could win within a year. The British established winter quarters in the New York City area and anticipated renewed campaigning the following spring. On the night of December 25–26, 1776, Washington crossed the Delaware River , leading a column of Continental Army troops from today's Bucks County, Pennsylvania , to today's Mercer County, New Jersey , in
14400-604: The fact that each colony argued that their boundaries extended from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean . The vast exchange of territory ultimately destabilized existing alliances and trade networks between settlers and Indians in the west, while it proved impossible to prevent encroachment beyond the Proclamation Line. With the exception of Virginia and others deprived of rights to western lands,
14550-541: The fleet was deployed, the vice-admiral would be in the leading portion or van , acting as the deputy to the admiral. The rank of Vice-Admiral evolved from that of Lieutenant of the Admiralty (1546–1564) that being an officer who acted as secretary to the Lord Admiral of England and lapsed in 1876 but was revived in 1901 by King Edward VII . Prior to 1864 the Royal Navy was divided into coloured squadrons which determined his career path . The command flags flown by
14700-467: The following week they launched successful amphibious operations against the French, destroying a string of signal posts, telegraphs and shore batteries along the coast and capturing six merchant vessels. At the end of 1808, Collingwood removed Spartan from her station off Toulon and in February 1809 ' Spartan was dispatched on a cruise in the eastern Mediterranean, capturing an enemy merchant vessel off
14850-427: The frigate HMS Success and the brig-sloop HMS Espoir on 25 April they spotted a convoy of enemy merchant vessels that made sail for the anchorage under the castle at Terracina . Brenton dispatched boarding parties to the anchorage in the boats of Spartan and Success which, supported by fire from the British ships, captured four merchant vessels laden with lead ore. On 1 May, Spartan and Success entered
15000-437: The gunboats, Cerere stood inshore for protection of the batteries at Baiae and Brenton set off in pursuit. However, moments later, light winds becalmed Spartan and left her surrounded by the enemy squadron and exposed to a concentrated cannonade. Brenton climbed on the capstan to gain a better view of the enemy position and was struck on the left side of his hip by grapeshot which shattered his ilium . Gravely injured, he
15150-441: The island of Capri . Early on 3 May, Brenton was pleased to observe the enemy squadron bearing down on his position in a line of battle. However, they had been joined by seven or eight gunboats armed with 18-pounder cannon , and Cerere and Fama had reinforced their crew with 400 Swiss infantry. Leading the line, Cerere was the first ship to fire as she closed within pistol shot of Spartan's port bow. Spartan responded with
15300-467: The likelihood of an imminent declaration of war. Resuming service with the Royal Navy, Brenton was appointed second lieutenant of HMS Assurance , a troop ship destined for Halifax, Nova Scotia , which Brenton described as "a station of all others I would have chosen, having numerous friends and relations at that place". However, having been sent ashore at Rochester in search of a group of deserters, Brenton and four midshipmen were arrested, accused by
15450-470: The line and four frigates and gave pursuit to determine their destination before losing sight of them during the night four days later. His efforts were not entirely in vain, however, as his determination to shadow the squadron despite considerable risk of capture earned praise from his former critic, Collingwood. Later that year, Brenton was ordered to make sail for the Gulf of Roses where he joined Lord Cochrane's frigate HMS Imperieuse on 7 September. Over
15600-475: The logistical difficulties involved and Burgoyne erroneously assumed Howe would remain on the defensive; Germain's failure to make this clear meant he opted to attack Philadelphia instead. Burgoyne set out on June 14, 1777, with a mixed force of British regulars, professional German soldiers and Canadian militia, and captured Fort Ticonderoga on July 5. As General Horatio Gates retreated, his troops blocked roads, destroyed bridges, dammed streams, and stripped
15750-503: The loss of 3,000 prisoners. The remaining American regiments on Long Island fell back four days later. General Henry Clinton wanted to pursue Washington's disorganized army, but he was first required to commit 6,000 troops to capture Newport, Rhode Island , to secure the Loyalist port. General Charles Cornwallis pursued Washington, but Howe ordered him to halt. The outlook following the defeat at Fort Washington appeared bleak for
15900-435: The mayor of illegally " impressing within the limits of the city". Attacked by an angry mob while being transferred to prison, Brenton later recalled being "knocked down, dragged through the street and narrowly escap[ing] with life, losing nearly all my clothes." Brenton was released after the Admiralty intervened on his behalf but Assurance had sailed without him and he was transferred to the 14-gun brig HMS Speedy which
16050-470: The native Khoikhoi population. In July 1817 Brenton's wife died after a long illness and the following month he received news his eldest son, John Jervis Brenton, a pupil at Hyde Abbey School , had died suddenly from an "attack of fever and sore throat". As a consequence, Brenton increasingly sought comfort from his Christian faith, writing at the time that "...the Almighty in his wisdom and mercy knew what
16200-473: The night of August 28, Knox bombarded the British. Knowing they were up against overwhelming odds, Washington ordered the assembly of a war council on August 29; all agreed to retreat to Manhattan. Washington quickly had his troops assembled and ferried them across the East River to Manhattan on flat-bottomed freight boats without any losses in men or ordnance, leaving General Thomas Mifflin 's regiments as
16350-440: The night, Washington outmaneuvered Cornwallis, then defeated his rearguard in the Battle of Princeton the following day. The two victories helped convince the French that the Americans were worthy military allies. After his success at Princeton, Washington entered winter quarters at Morristown, New Jersey , where he remained until May and received Congressional direction to inoculate all Patriot troops against smallpox . With
16500-480: The numerically superior British inflicted severe damage to the French ships, light winds hampered Samuarez's squadron which withdrew to Gibraltar after suffering heavy casualties and the loss of HMS Hannibal . Caesar , which had been in the thick of the action, was heavily damaged and had 16 killed and 25 wounded. In his dispatches to the Admiralty in the aftermath of the battle, Samuarez praised Brenton's "cool judgement and intrepid conduct". The following day, Brenton
16650-441: The outcome of the enquiry. Collingwood ordered him to return to his station off Toulon where the mundane task of watching over the port would offer little opportunity for Brenton to cause further nuisance. Brenton was given a brief respite from his position off Toulon in March 1808 when Spartan was ordered to cruise between Sardinia and Cape Bon . Soon after arriving, Brenton encountered a powerful French squadron of ten ships of
16800-491: The petition to the king. Although constitutionally correct, since George could not oppose his own government, it disappointed those Americans who hoped he would mediate in the dispute, while the hostility of his language annoyed even Loyalist members of Congress. Combined with the Proclamation of Rebellion , issued on August 23 in response to the Battle at Bunker Hill , it ended hopes of a peaceful settlement. Backed by
16950-505: The poorer classes, and quickly became a source of much discontent. The 1763 to 1765 Grenville ministry instructed the Royal Navy to cease trading smuggled goods and enforce customs duties levied in American ports. The most important was the 1733 Molasses Act ; routinely ignored before 1763, it had a significant economic impact since 85% of New England rum exports were manufactured from imported molasses. These measures were followed by
17100-413: The position of Lieutenant-Governor at Greenwich Hospital —a home for retired Royal Navy sailors. He initially declined the offer as the role precluded him from further promotion and active service but reconsidered after King William IV , an acquaintance and former naval officer, intervened and relaxed the conditions. In addition to his duties at the hospital where he took up residence, Brenton embarked on
17250-574: The principal instigators of the rebellion. The operation was to begin around midnight on April 19, in the hope of completing it before the American Patriots could respond. However, Paul Revere learned of the plan and notified Captain Parker , commander of the Concord militia, who prepared to resist. The first action of the war, commonly referred to as the shot heard round the world , was
17400-644: The principle of taxation by Parliament. In December 1773, a group called the Sons of Liberty disguised as Mohawk natives dumped 342 crates of tea into the Boston Harbor , an event later known as the Boston Tea Party . The British Parliament responded by passing the so-called Intolerable Acts , aimed specifically at Massachusetts, although many colonists and members of the Whig opposition considered them
17550-504: The rank of lieutenant in 1790. After accepting a commission to serve in the Royal Swedish Navy during the Russo-Swedish War , Brenton returned to the Royal Navy and was given his first command, HMS Trepassey , in 1791. Serving in the Mediterranean during the French Revolutionary Wars, Brenton took part in the Battle of Cape St Vincent on HMS Barfleur and earned the patronage of Admiral Sir John Jervis . He
17700-469: The recruitment of new regiments, while allowing Catholics to enlist for the first time. Britain also signed a series of treaties with German states to supply additional troops . Within a year, it had an army of over 32,000 men in America, the largest ever sent outside Europe at the time. The employment of German soldiers against people viewed as British citizens was opposed by many in Parliament and by
17850-591: The resulting Battles of Lexington and Concord in April 1775 ignited the war. In June, the Second Continental Congress formalized Patriot militias into the Continental Army and appointed Washington its commander-in-chief. The British Parliament declared the colonies to be in a state of rebellion in August 1775. The stakes of the war were formalized with passage of the Lee Resolution by the Congress in Philadelphia on July 2, 1776, and
18000-557: The royal yacht Royal Sovereign , conveying the Duke and Duchess of Clarence and St Andrews to Antwerp in the summer of 1822. That same year he married his cousin, Harriet Brenton daughter of James Brenton , with whom he had a daughter. Brenton's wound was prone to frequent bouts of inflammation so he began a period of semi-retirement. In 1825 he was appointed Colonel of the Marines —a salaried sinecure role awarded to post captains with
18150-505: The ship was decommissioned for an extensive refit. He subsequently joined HMS Dido in which he was employed in surveying and sounding the coast of Nova Scotia . Returning to England in 1789, Brenton joined HMS Bellona which was refitting in Portsmouth and in March 1790 he passed an examination for the rank of lieutenant . Seeking active employment, Brenton and a number of other Royal Navy officers accepted commissions to serve in
18300-455: The ship, a fresh wind enabled Minerve to refloat but hopes of an escape were dashed soon after when the wind ceased completely and the ship drifted on to another breakwater. Unable to bring his guns to bear on the enemy and facing a destructive barrage of fire which had sunk the lugger, Brenton consequently surrendered his ship after suffering eleven men killed and sixteen wounded. Prisoner exchanges had become increasingly rare and Brenton faced
18450-475: The split as 40% Patriot, 40% neutral, 20% Loyalist, but with considerable regional variations. At the onset of the war, the Second Continental Congress realized defeating Britain required foreign alliances and intelligence-gathering. The Committee of Secret Correspondence was formed for "the sole purpose of corresponding with our friends in Great Britain and other parts of the world". From 1775 to 1776,
18600-495: The town. Morale among his troops rapidly declined, and an unsuccessful attempt to break past Gates at the Battle of Freeman Farms on September 19 resulted in 600 British casualties. When Clinton advised he could not reach them, Burgoyne's subordinates advised retreat; a reconnaissance in force on October 7 was repulsed by Gates at the Battle of Bemis Heights , forcing them back into Saratoga with heavy losses. By October 11, all hope of escape had vanished; persistent rain reduced
18750-424: The transport ship. Brenton took Speedy amidst the flotilla, close enough to break several oars, while firing broadsides from both sides of the ship and maintaining a brisk musketry for around 45 minutes. The Spanish consequently broke off their attack and ran for the Spanish coast. Meanwhile, Speedy , which suffered two dead, one wounded and extensive damage to her rigging and hull, was unable to pursue and limped to
18900-453: The unanimous ratification of the Declaration of Independence two days later, on July 4, 1776. After a successful siege , Washington's forces drove the British Army out of Boston in March 1776, and British commander in chief William Howe responded by launching the New York and New Jersey campaign . Howe captured New York City in November. Washington responded by clandestinely crossing
19050-428: The wake of the American defeat, especially in New York state . In London, news of the victorious Long Island campaign was well received with festivities held in the capital. Public support reached a peak. Strategic deficiencies among Patriot forces were evident: Washington divided a numerically weaker army in the face of a stronger one, his inexperienced staff misread the military situation, and American troops fled in
19200-477: The whole course of my professional career" while chasing a suspected enemy polacre off Nice . Both ships became becalmed therefore Brenton sent the frigate's boats loaded with 70 of his crew to row ahead and capture what he believed was an unarmed merchant vessel. However the polacre was heavily armed and her guns wreaked havoc on Spartan's crew as they attempted to board, forcing the boats to retreat with heavy casualties. Sixty-three men were killed or wounded; among
19350-638: The wider global conflict known as the Seven Years' War , ended with the 1763 Peace of Paris , which expelled France from their possessions in New France . Acquisition of territories in Atlantic Canada and West Florida , inhabited largely by French and Spanish-speaking Catholics , led British authorities to consolidate their hold by populating them with English-speaking settlers. Preventing conflict between settlers and Indian tribes west of
19500-476: The winter of 1794, during which time Brenton was promoted to first lieutenant. In February 1795, Sibyl proceeded to the River Weser to assist with the evacuation of British troops retreating from the disastrous Flanders Campaign . Ill-health forced Brenton to relinquish his position on Sibyl and return ashore at the end of 1795. After a short period of convalescence, Brenton wrote to Admiralty requesting
19650-536: Was a viable possibility. France signed a commercial agreement with the rebels, followed by a Treaty of Alliance in February 1778. In 1779, the Sullivan Expedition undertook a scorched earth campaign against the Iroquois who were largely allied with the British. Indian raids on the American frontier, however, continued to be a problem. Also, in 1779, Spain allied with France against Great Britain in
19800-553: Was appointed commissioner of Port Mahon Dockyard and the following year he became naval commissioner at the Cape of Good Hope . He became Lieutenant-Governor of Greenwich Hospital in 1831 and eventually rose to the rank of vice admiral. A pious man, Brenton became involved in philanthropic activities in later life and he died in 1844, aged 73. Jahleel Brenton was born on 22 August 1770 in Rhode Island , British North America . He
19950-586: Was available for him to command he was ordered to return to England. En route to England, Brenton paid a visit to Earl St Vincent, now commander in chief of the Channel Fleet , cruising off Brest . Benefiting from the Admiral's patronage, Brenton was given a position as volunteer on St Vincent's flagship HMS Ville de Paris and in January 1801, he was appointed flag captain of Rear Admiral Sir James Samuarez's flagship HMS Caesar . Caesar departed
20100-442: Was best for me. He has afflicted me, and I humbly implore his Holy Spirit to give me perfect resignation to his Divine will." Simon's Town had become a busy port providing supplies to the island of Saint Helena after Napoleon was exiled there in 1815 but after his death in 1821 its importance diminished and the position of resident commissioner was abolished. Brenton returned to England later that year and temporarily took command of
20250-477: Was carried below and command of the frigate passed to Lieutenant George Wickens Willes . A light breeze subsequently enabled Spartan to get under way and pour fire into Cerere's starboard quarter and launch a devastating raking fire into Fama's stern. Spartan then fired a broadside into Sparviero which compelled her to haul down her colours and surrender. Meanwhile, Cerere escaped to Baia—heavy damage to her rigging prevented Spartan from pursuing—and
20400-464: Was dispatched with a division of infantry from the 35th Regiment of Foot to attack Cerigo . On 10 October Brenton landed on the island with his small invasion force and assaulted the castle at Kapsali the following morning. After exchanging fire throughout most of the day the enemy garrison surrendered at dawn on 12 October as Spartan's crew prepared to bring additional cannon ashore. Collingwood received news of Brenton's triumphs with enthusiasm and in
20550-406: Was duly court-martialled for the loss of Minerve but was exonerated and given command of the newly constructed 36-gun frigate HMS Spartan in February 1807. Spartan was dispatched to the Mediterranean where Brenton was given orders to cruise off Toulon to watch the movements of the French fleet. Arriving off Elba on 27 April, Brenton narrowly avoided capture a second time when he encountered
20700-550: Was given a temporary position as captain of HMS Genereux , a 74-gun ship of the line that had been captured from the French in February, pending the availability of a suitable ship to command. Brenton found Genereux undergoing extensive repairs at Port Mahon and in May she joined the British squadron blockading Genoa. Superseded by Captain Manley Dixon in June, Brenton departed Genereux for Gibraltar but finding no other ship
20850-529: Was given orders to join Samuarez's Channel Island squadron. On the night of 2 July Brenton sailed inshore to reconnoitre Cherbourg Harbour when he and his pilot became disorientated in thick fog and Minerve ran aground on a submerged breakwater under construction in the port. The fog soon cleared and Minerve immediately came under heavy fire from shore batteries while two French gun brigs moved to position themselves off Minerve's bow where they could direct
21000-590: Was initially blocked by American naval vessels on Lake Champlain until victory at Valcour Island on October 11 forced the Americans to withdraw to Fort Ticonderoga , while in December an uprising in Nova Scotia sponsored by Massachusetts was defeated at Fort Cumberland . These failures impacted public support for the Patriot cause, and aggressive anti-Loyalist policies in the New England colonies alienated
21150-477: Was involved in the capture of the French settlements at Saint Pierre and Miquelon which capitulated without resistance. Brenton was subsequently recalled to England, where he arrived in January 1794, and was appointed second lieutenant on the frigate HMS Sibyl . Sibyl was dispatched as part of a squadron headed for the Scheldt later that year before embarking on an arduous cruise off the Dutch coast throughout
21300-428: Was made a baronet , received a 100- guinea sword from Lloyd's Patriotic Fund , and in consequence of his wound was granted an annual pension of £300. However, in the spring of 1811, Brenton faced financial ruin when his prize agent failed with the loss of the prize money earned from Spartan . In addition to this loss, a court of appeal ordered that his seizure of two American ships sailing with false documents in 1807
21450-616: Was offered the command of another squadron in the Adriatic but the severity of his wound prevented him from continuing active service and in June Rear Admiral Martin arranged for Spartan to carry Brenton back to England. Confined to his cot and suffering great pain from his wound, Brenton endured an uncomfortable journey back to England and after his arrival he continued his convalescence in lodgings in Alverstoke and Paddington . In recognition of his service, Brenton
21600-522: Was ordered to form an elite group for reconnaissance and secret missions. Knowlton's Rangers , which included Nathan Hale , became the Army's first intelligence unit. When Washington was driven off Long Island , he soon realized that he would need to professionalize military intelligence. With aid from Benjamin Tallmadge , Washington launched the six-man Culper spy ring . The efforts of Washington and
21750-470: Was patrolling for smugglers off the English coast. Speedy was paid off in 1791 and Brenton spent nearly a year ashore on half-pay before he was appointed to command HMS Trepassey , a small 44-foot (13 m) long sloop armed with four swivel guns that was used to patrol the coast of Newfoundland . Brenton remained at that station for two years and at the outbreak of war with France in 1793 he
21900-596: Was sent to Algeciras under a flag of truce and negotiated the release of Hannibal's officers on parole. He returned to Gibraltar to find Samuarez preparing to transfer to HMS Audacious : eager to attack the French before they reached the safety of Cadiz, he deemed Caesar too damaged to take part in any further operations. However, Brenton was confident he could make the ship seaworthy and requested permission to continue repairs. Just fours days later his crew had completed extensive repairs to her hull and foremast, and her shattered mainmast had been entirely replaced. On 12 July
22050-545: Was subsequently appointed commander of HMS Speedy in which he distinguished himself in a number actions against Spanish ships. He was promoted to post-captain in 1800 and served as flag captain on HMS Caesar under Rear Admiral Sir James Saumarez , taking part in the First and Second Battles of Algeciras . At the outbreak of the Napoleonic Wars, Brenton was given command of the frigate HMS Minerve but he
22200-453: Was taken prisoner soon afterwards when his ship ran aground near Cherbourg . He spent three and a half years in captivity in France before he was exchanged for a French prisoner of war and was subsequently given command of HMS Spartan . Brenton returned to the Mediterranean in 1807 where he launched a disastrous attack on an armed polacre which earned a strong rebuke from Vice Admiral Lord Collingwood . He salvaged his reputation undertaking
22350-618: Was the eldest of ten children born to Rear Admiral Jahleel Brenton of the Royal Navy and his wife Henrietta Cowley. Brenton was the great-great grandson of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations governor William Brenton , who had emigrated from England in the 17th century, and the grandson of the longest serving governor in Rhode Island history, Samuel Cranston . He had two brothers that survived past infancy— Edward Pelham Brenton and James Wallace Brenton —and both served in
22500-541: Was unlawful and he was ordered to repay £3,000—a decision Brenton claimed was motivated by political expediency. As a consequence Brenton was forced to sell his home in Bath and narrowly avoided being sent to debtors' prison when a friend loaned him the remaining debt. Over the next year Brenton continued his rehabilitation under the supervision of the surgeon Henry Cline . Having gained enough strength to discard his crutches and walk with two walking sticks, Brenton applied for
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