James Clinton was an American soldier. He was born in 1736 at New York and died in 1812. During the French and Indian War he captured a French sloop-of-war on Lake Ontario. As colonel of a New Yorkregiment he was with Montgomery at Quebec in 1775. As brigadier-general he commanded at Fort Clinton when it was taken by the British in 1777, and was present at Yorktown. He was a member of the New York convention that adopted the Federal Constitution. Research James Clinton
Richard Howe (the Earl Howe) was a British sailor. He was born in 1725 and died in 1799. The second son of Emanuel Scrope, the second ViscountHowe, he joined the navy at the age of fourteen, and served under Anson until 1745, when, though only twenty years of age, he obtained the command of the Baltimoresloop of war, in which he took part in the siege of Fort William, during the last Jacobite rebellion. In 1758 he reduced Cherbourg, and in the same year succeeded to the title of ViscountHowe. A British rear-admiral, he was appointed commander-in-chief of the naval forces in North America in 1776. In conjunction with his brother, Sir William Howe, he was commissioned to conciliate the colonies, but found this impossible. He then took possession of Long Island and New York in 1776 and of Philadelphia in 1777.
In 1778 he encountered the French fleet, under Count d'Estaing, off the coast of Rhode Island; both fleets were badly shattered by a storm which prevented a decisive engagement. He resigned his charge to Admiral Byron soon afterward and returned to England. He published 'Narrative of the Transactions of the Fleet' in 1780, vindicating his conduct during his command in America.
In 1782 he was created an earl. In the course of the same year he sailed to the relief of Gibraltar, which he effected in spite of the combined fleets of the enemy. In 1783 he accepted the post of first lord of the admiralty, which, with a partial intermission, he continued to hold until 1793, when, on the breaking out of the war with France, he took the command of the British fleet, and bringing the enemy to an action on June, the 1st, 1794, he obtained over them a decisive victory, for which he received the thanks of parliament and other honours. In 1797 LordHowe exerted himself with great success to quell the mutiny among the seamen at Portsmouth. Research Richard Howe
Samuel Tucker was an American sailor. He was born in 1747 at Massachusetts and died in 1833. While commander of the Franklin and the Hancock in 1776, he captured more than thirty vessels. From 1777 to 1780 he commanded the Boston, and captured many prizes, including the sloop-of-war Thorn. He commanded the Thorn from 1780 to 1781, when he was captured by the British frigate HMS Hind. He was a member of the Massachusetts Legislature from 1814 to 1818. Research Samuel Tucker
Thomas Cochrane was a British admiral and the Tenth Earl of Dundonald. He was born in 1775 at Annsfield and died in 1860. At the age of eighteen he embarked with his uncle, then Captain, and afterwards Sir Alexander Cochrane, in the Hind, of twenty-eight guns, and soon distinguished himself by his daring and gallantry. In 1800 he was appointed to the Speedy, a sloop-of-war of fourteen guns, In charge of the 'Speedy', he captured off the coast of Spain, among others, the Spanish ship 'El Gamo' in May 1801. Soon afterwards he was himself captured by a French ship of the line. In 1805, while in command of the Pallasfrigate, he took some rich prizes, and for the next four years in the Imperieuse performed remarkable exploits in cutting out vessels, storming batteries, destroying signals, etc. In the Basque Roads in 1809 with a division of fire-vessels he pushed within the enemy's lines, effecting immense destruction.
On his return to England he entered parliament, and by his attacks on the abuses of the naval administration made himself obnoxious to the authorities. He gave further offence by charging LordGambier, his superior officer, with neglect of duty (which was true); by denouncing the abuses of the prize-court, and the treatment of the prisoners of war. His enemies succeeded in 1814 in convicting him on a charge - since proved to be false - of originating a rumour, for speculative purposes, that Napoleon had abdicated. He was expelled from parliament, deprived of all his honours, imprisoned for a year, and fined 1000 pounds. The electors of Westminster immediately paid his fine and re-elected him, but he had to remain in prison until the expiration of his sentence.
In 1818 he took service in the Chilian navy, his exploits greatly aiding the national independence of that country, as well as soon after of Brazil. In 1832 he was restored to his rank in the British navy. In 1831, by the death of his father, he had succeeded to the name and title of Earl of Dundonald; in 1841 he became vice-admiral of the blue; in 1848 he was appointed commander-in-chief on the North America and West India station; and in 1851 and 1854 respectively he became vice-admiral of the white, and rear-admiral of the United Kingdom. He did much to promote the adoption of steam and the screw propeller in war-ships. He wrote an autobiography, which, though left incomplete, is a most interesting work. Research Thomas Cochrane
William Dampier was an English explorer, and pirate. He was born in 1652 and died in 1715. After the death of his father when he was young, Dampier was sent to sea where he distinguished himself as an able mariner. After serving in the Dutch War, he became a pirate off the coast of Peru before returning to England in 1691. In 1699 he was sent to explore the coast of Australia and New Guinea, in a royal sloop-of-war. In 1703 he sailed for the South Sea as a pirate once more, returning to England in 1707, and in 1708 sailed as pilot with Captain Woodes Rogers on his voyage around the world. Research William Dampier
HMS Aberdeen was a British Aberdeen Class escortsloop of 990 tons displacement built at the Devonport Dockyard and launched in 1936. She was armed with four 4-inch anti-aircraft guns and nine smaller guns. Two Admiralty 3-drum type boilers provided a top speed of 16.5 knots and she carried a complement of 100. Research Aberdeen
HMS Actaeon was a British modified Black Swan Class sloop of 1430 tons displacement launched in 1945. HMS Actaeon was powered by two 3-drum type boilers providing a top speed of 20 knots and carried a complement of 192. She was armed with six 4 inch dual purpose guns and eight 2 pdr anti-aircraft guns. Research Actaeon
HMS Alacrity was a British modified Black Swan Class sloop of 1430 tons displacement launched in 1944. HMS Alacrity was powered by two 3-drum type boilers providing a top speed of 20 knots and carried a complement of 192. She was armed with six 4 inch dual purpose guns and eight 2 pdr anti-aircraft guns. Research Alacrity
The Alfonso De Albuquerque was a Portuguese 1st class sloop of 1811 tons displacement launched in 1934. The Alfonso De Albuquerque was powered by two Yarrow boilers providing a top speed of 21 knots and a range of 12800 km at 10 knots. She carried a peace time complement of 189, rising to 229 in war and an aircraft. She was armed with four 4.7 inch guns; two 3 inch anti-aircraft guns; four 40 mm anti-aircraft guns and two depth charge throwers and could also carry forty mines. Research Alfonso De Albuquerque
The Amiral Charner was a French sloop of 1969 tons displacement launched in 1932 for service in the Tropics. The Amiral Charner was powered by two sets of diesel engines providing a top speed of 15.5 knots and a range of 14400 km at 10 knots. She carried a complement of 136 and was armed with three 5.5 inch guns; four 37 mm anti-aircraft guns; six machine-guns and carried 50 mines and a seaplane. Research Amiral Charner
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research James Clinton
