In 1807 three Negro sailors deserted from the British man-of-war 'Melampus' and enlisted on the United States ship 'Chesapeake'. The British squadron was then just within the Virginia capes. The British admiral demanded a surrender of the sailors. This was refused by the US Government. Accordingly, on June the 22nd, as the 'Chesapeake', in a half-prepared condition, was sailing out from Hampton Roads, a lieutenant from the British ship 'Leopard' boarded her and again demanded the deserters. Upon being refused, CaptainHumphrey immediately opened fire upon the 'Chesapeake' which Commodore Barron, who was wholly unprepared, was compelled to surrender without firing a gun.
President Jefferson at once issued a proclamation demanding a disavowal of the act, the restoration of the captured sailors and the recall of Admiral Berkeley. Though some tardy reparation was made, the affair greatly exasperated American opinion against the British, and contributed to bring on the War of 1812. Research Chesapeake and Leopard Affair.
Viscount Adam Duncan was a Scottish seaman, He was born in 1731 at Dundee and died in 1804. He went to sea when young, and was a post-captain in 1761. In the following year he served at the taking of Havana; and in 1779 he shared in the victory of Admiral Rodney over the Spaniards. In 1789 he became rear-admiral of the blue, and in 1794 vice-admiral of the white squadron. The following year he was appointed commander of the North Sea fleet, and in October, 1797, won a brilliant victory over the Dutch fleet off Camperdown, for which he was rewarded with the title of ViscountDuncan and a pension of 2000 pounds a year. Research Adam Duncan
An admiral is the commander-in-chief of a squadron or fleet of ships of war, or of the entire naval force of a country, or simply a naval officer of the highest rank. In the British navy admirals are of four ranks: admiral of the fleet, admiral, vice-admiral, and rear-admiral. They were also divided formerly into three classes, named after the colours of their respective flag's, admirals of the red, of the white, and of the blue. In 1864, however, this distinction was given up, and now there is one flag common to all ships of war, namely, the white ensign divided into four quarters by the cross of St George, and having the union in the upper corner next the staff.
The title admiral of the fleet is conferred on a few admirals, and carries an increase of pay along with it. A vice-admiral is next in rank and command to the admiral: he carries his flag at the foretop-gallant-mast head, while an admiral carries his at the main. A rear-admiral, next in rank to the vice-admiral, carries his flag at the mizzentop-gallant-mast head.
In Great Britain the titleLord high admiral is an officer who (when this rare dignity is conferred) is at the head of the naval administration of Great Britain. There have been few high admirals since 1632, when the office was first put in commission. James Duke of York (afterwards James II) held it for several years during Charles II's reign. In the reign of William and Mary it was vested in lords commissioners of the admiralty, and since that time it has been held for short periods only by Prince George of Denmark in the time of Queen Anne, and by William IV, then Duke of Clarence, in 1827 to 1828.
Charles Wilkes was an American naval officer. He was born in 1798 at New York and died in 1877. During a US expedition of 1838 to 1842 he discovered the continent of Antarctica and published a narrative of five volumes in 1845. In November 1861 he captured Mason and Slidell, Confederate commissioners from the British steam-packet Trent, and afterwards commanded a squadron in the West Indies and was made a rear-admiral in 1866. Research Charles Wilkes
Charles XII (also known as Alexander of the North) was king of Sweden. He was born in 1682 at Stockholm and died in 1718. He was the sole surviving son of Charles XI, whom he succeeded in 1697, when he was but fifteen years old, he was declared of age by the estates. To his jealous neighbours this seemed a favourable time to humble the pride of Sweden. Frederick IV of Denmark, Augustus I. of Poland, and the Czar Peter I of Russia concluded an alliance which resulted in war against Sweden. With the aid of an English and Dutch squadron the Danes were soon made to sign peace, but Augustus of Saxony and Poland, and the czar were still in the field. Rapidly transporting 20,000 men to Livonia, Charles XII stormed the czar's camp at Nerva, slaying 30,000 Russians and dispersing the rest on the 30th of November 1700. Crossing the Dwina he then attacked the Saxons and gained a decisive victory. Following up this advantage he won the battle of Clissau, drove Augustus from Poland, had the crown of that country conferred on Stanislaus Leczinsky, and dictated the conditions of peace at Altranstadt in Saxony in 1706.
In September, 1707, the Swedes left Saxony, Charles XII taking the shortest route to Moscow. At Smolensk he altered his plan, deviated to the Ukraine to gain the help of the Cossacks, and weakened his army very seriously by difficult marches through a district extremely cold and ill supplied with provisions. In this condition Peter marched upon him with 70,000 men, and defeated him completely at Pultawa. Charles XII fled with a small guard and found refuge and an honourable reception at Bender, in the Turkish territory. Here he managed to persuade the Porte to declare war against Russia. The armies met on the banks of the Pruth on July the 1st 1711 and Peter seemed nearly ruined, when his wife, Catharine, succeeded in bribing the grand vizier, and procured a peace in which the interests of Charles XII were neglected.
The attempts of Charles XII to rekindle a war were vain, and after having spent some years at Bender he was forced by the Turkish government to leave. Arriving in his own country in 1714, he set about the measures necessary to defend the kingdom, and the fortunes of Sweden were beginning to assume a favourable aspect when he was slain by a cannon-ball as he was besieging Frederikshall on November the 30th, 1718. Firmness, valour, and love of justice were the great features in the character of Charles XII, but were disfigured by an obstinate rashness. After his deathSweden sank from the rank of a leading power. Research Charles XII
David Dixon Porter was an American sailor. He was born in 1813 and died in 1891. The son of David Porter he accompanied his father in his voyages, and became a midshipman in 1829. He had served in the Mexican War, and had commanded Californiamail steamers, when the American Civil War called out his powers. With the control of the mortar fleet in April, 1862, he bombarded Fort Jackson and Fort St Philip, aiding David Farragut in the great feat of taking New Orleans. He was continuously active in the operations near Vicksburg that year, commanded the Mississippisquadron, and captured Arkansas Post in January, 1863.
Promoted to be rear-admiral Porter, in May, 1863, took Grand Gulf near Vicksburg and co-operated with Grant in the reduction of that stronghold. The following year he aided Banks in the Red River expedition. Transferred the same year to the North Atlantic squadron Admiral Porter commanded the powerful naval contingents in the two assaults on Fort Fisher in December, 1864, and January, 1865; in the latter, Porter and General Terry succeeded in reducing this last of the important sea fortresses left to the Confederates. He was promoted to be vice-admiral in 1866 and admiral in 1870. Until 1869 he was superintendent of the naval academy. Besides writing a life of his father and other naval works Admiral Porter was also a successful novelist. Research David Dixon Porter
Sir Douglas Bader was a British airman. He was born in 1910 and died in 1983. A flying accident in 1931 resulted in the loss of both of his legs, and the prediction by doctors that he would never walk again. Bader went on to teach himself how to walk and to fly again, being accepted back into the RAF, becoming a fighter pilot with No 242 Squadron RAF Fighter Command. In 1941 he was captured after a mid-air collision with an enemy plane. Research Douglas Bader
Sir Edward Boscawen was a British admiral. He was born in 1711 and died in 1761. He was the third son of the first Viscount Falmouth. In 1741 he distinguished himself at the taking of Porto Bello. In 1744 when in command of the Dreadnought, he assisted in the capture of the French ship Medee. In 1747, after commanding the Namur, in the action off Finisterre, where he was wounded, he became a rear-admiral. Having subsequently rendered useful service in India, he became a lord of the Admiralty in 1751, and a vice- admiral in 1755. He effected the reduction of Louisburg and Cape Breton Island in 1758, and in the following year chased and destroyed a French squadron under De La Clue off Lagos. In 1758 he reached the rank of admiral, and in 1760 was made general of marines. Research Edward Boscawen
Lord Edward Hawke was a British naval commander. He was born in 1705 and died in 1781. He entered the navy as a midshipman, in 1734 received the command of the Wolf, and in 1747 he became commander of a squadron, and defeated the French fleet at Belleisle. Edward Hawke was in consequence made a K.C.B., and vice-admiral of the blue. In 1759 he defeated the French at Quiberon. In 1765 Edward Hawke was appointed vice-admiral of Britain, and was elevated to the peerage in 1776. Research Edward Hawke
Edward Preble was an American sailor. He was born in 1761 and died in 1807. He joined a privateer in 1777. In 1779 he engaged in the attacks of the Protector on the British privateer, Admiral Duff. He served on the Winthrop when that vessel captured an armed brig. He was commissioned lieutenant in 1798, and in 1799 commanded the Essex. In 1803 he commanded the Constitution and the squadron against the Barbary States. His operations resulted in the treaty of 1805, by which tribute by the United States and the slavery of Christian captives was abolished. Research Edward Preble
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Chesapeake and Leopard Affair.
