ADMIRAL BENBOW—p.51.
John Benbow was born at Shrewsbury in the year 1650, and brought up to the nautical profession on board a merchantman. In this service he so signalised himself in a desperate fight with a Sallee pirate in the Mediterranean, that King James II. promoted him at once to the command of a ship of war. William III. employed him in protecting our trade in the Channel, which he did with great effect. His valour and activity acquired for him the confidence of the nation; and being raised to the rank of Rear-Admiral, he sailed to the West Indies in search of the French fleet. In August, 1702, he fell in with Du Casse, the French admiral, and was so unfortunate as to have his leg carried away by a chain-shot, in a running-fight with the enemy's fleet. Being carried below, and proper dressings being applied, he caused himself to be again brought on deck, and continued the action. At this critical moment, he was basely deserted by several of the captains under his command, two of whom were afterwards tried by court-martial and condemned to be shot. Benbow, however, sunk gradually under the mental distress occasioned by this transaction and the bodily suffering from his wound, and expired at Jamaica on the 4th of November, 1702. The letter of his opponent, Du Casse, after the battle, is in the highest spirit of chivalry: "Sir, I had little hope on Monday last but to have supped in your cabin. It has pleased God to order it otherwise: I am thankful for it. As to those cowardly captains who deserted you, hang them up, for they richly deserve it.—Your's, Du Casse."
