John Erskine Douglas
John Erskine Douglas | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | c. 1758 |
| Died | 25 July 1847 Sparrows, nr.Watford,Hertfordshire |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service |  Royal Navy |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Commands | Jamaica Station |
| Battles / wars | |
AdmiralJohn Erskine Douglas(c. 1758 – 25 July 1847) was a senior BritishRoyal Navyofficer of the early nineteenth century who served in a number of vessels and participated at the destruction of the French ship of the lineImpétueuxin 1806 and the victory over the French offBrestduring theBattle of Basque Roadsin 1809. He also served in the Mediterranean and offNorfolk, Virginia,where he gained notoriety by searching American vessels for British deserters without asking permission from the American authorities. He later served as commander in chief atJamaicaand rose through the ranks to full admiral. He amassed a fortune, and when he died Douglas left over 40,000l.to his daughters.
Life
[edit]The son of David Douglas, a descendant of James Douglas, 2nd earl of Queensberry, Douglas was born in the later 1750s, and joined the BritishRoyal Navyat a young age, reaching the rank ofcommanderin 1794 at the outbreak of theFrench Revolutionary Wars.Within a year he had been made a post captain and taken command of the smallfrigateHMSGarland,which he commanded in theNorth Seauntil 1798, when he transferred to the larger frigateHMSBoston.Bostonwas stationed off theEastern Seaboardof theUnited States,intercepting numerous French merchant ships trading with American ports. For a time he blockaded the French frigateSémillante,but by 1801 had sailed for theWest Indies,operating in theLeeward Islandsand then moving north toHalifax, Nova Scotia,where he remained until 1804, continuing in employment throughout thePeace of Amiens.[1]
On his return to Britain, Douglas was given the 80-gunship of the lineHMSImpetueux,moving in 1805 to the 74-gunHMSBellona,which participated in theAtlantic campaign of 1806as part of the squadron under Vice-AdmiralSir Richard Strachan.Ordered to the Eastern Seaboard of the United States,Bellonawas cruising withHMSBelleisleoffCape Henryon 14 September 1806 when the French ship of the lineImpétueuxwas spotted steering into theChesapeake.Impétueuxhad been caught ina hurricaneearlier in the summer and was badly damaged, limping to port underjury masts.Closely pursued,Impétueuxwas driven on shore by her captain and the crew scrambled onto the beach as British boats boarded and captured the wreck. Although British intervention on American shore was a clear violation of American neutrality in the war, there was no protest from the American authorities – the only complaint coming from the French consul at Norfolk. Damaged beyond repair, the wreck ofImpétueuxwas burnt on the beach.[2]
Douglas remained off the Chesapeake during 1807 in command of a squadron of smaller vessels observing two French ships of the line at anchor inHampton Roads.This squadron became embroiled in the controversy surrounding the removal of British deserters from American-flagged vessels that ended with theChesapeake-Leopard Affairin July 1807 and Douglas exchanged angry letters with theMayor of Norfolk.Returning to Europe in 1808,Bellonawas attached to theChannel Fleetand in 1809 was part of the blockade fleet underLord Gambierthat destroyed a number of French ships at theBattle of Basque Roads.Moving to the North Sea in 1810, Douglas captured theprivateerL'Heros du Nordand in 1812 transferred to the 98-gunsecond rateHMSPrince of Walesin the Mediterranean, where he remained for the rest of the war.[1]
In 1814, Douglas was promoted torear-admiraland from 1816 served as commander in chief of theJamaica Station,remaining in the post until 1817.[3]Retiring from active service, Douglas continued to rise through the ranks, becoming a vice-admiral in 1825 and a full admiral in 1838. He died aged 89 at Swallows nearWatfordinHertfordshireon 25 July 1847, leaving the considerable fortune of 40,000l.(£4,549,200 as of 2024)[4]to his daughters, with a proviso that his sister receive 150l.a year.[1]
See also
[edit]- O'Byrne, William Richard (1849)...John Murray– viaWikisource.
Notes
[edit]- ^abcThe Gentleman's Magazine,July 1847, p. 430
- ^James, Vol. 4, p. 210
- ^Cundall, p. xx
- ^UKRetail Price Indexinflation figures are based on data fromClark, Gregory (2017)."The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)".MeasuringWorth.Retrieved7 May2024.
References
[edit]- Cundall, Frank (1915).Historic Jamaica.West India Committee.
- "Obituary".The Gentleman's Magazine.XXVIII:430. July 1847.
- James, William(2002) [1827].The Naval History of Great Britain.Conway Maritime Press.