JOHN FOOTE, Esq.
[Captain of 1827.]
Obtained the rank of lieutenant in May, 1801; and had the misfortune to be wounded and taken prisoner while commanding a gun-boat, manned by the Queen 98, and sent from Gibraltar to afford protection to a convoy passing through the Gut, in Oct. 1806. The following is a copy of his official letter to Rear-Admiral Purvis, by whom he had been sent on that service:
Town of Tariffa, Oct. 26th, 1806.
“Sir,– With heart-felt anguish I acquaint you of the capture of H.M. gun-boat Hannah, yesterday forenoon, by a Spanish privateer, of 4 guns and 70 men.
“Being off Cabritta Point, I discovered a latine-rigged vessel in the middle of the Gut, a few miles to leeward of me, towing a merchantman towards the Spanish coast; and conceiving it my duty to endeavour to regain her, I made all sail after them. Upon coming within gun-shot, I perceived the enemy was a large three-masted vessel, of much superior force to the gun-boat; I therefore, after exchanging a few shot, and finding she knew her superiority, by casting off the tow, and tacking after mc, endeavoured to escape; – she soon, however, got so close as to do execution with her grape; and our ammunition being nearly expended, I determined to try the event by boarding her ; but on coming alongside, such a number of men jumped into us, as obliged us to act on the defensive. After fighting on the deck about ten minutes, I looked around, and saw scarce an Englishman standing, and another privateer coming up close to us; I therefore determined to save the lives of the few brave fellows that were left, by striking the British flag. I send this by Mr. Spargo, midshipman, to whom I am indebted for writing it, (being wounded in my left arm, and the doctor having bled me in the other) as well as for his gallantry in the engagement; and I cannot finish without saying how much I owe to the bravery of young Mr. Millett, midshipman, and the whole of the gun-boat’s crew. I herewith enclose a list of killed, &c.
(Signed)“John Foote.”
“This contest,” says Lord Collingwood, “was highly honorable to Lieutenant Foote and his men;” of whom six were slain, two drowned, and eleven wounded.
We next find this officer serving as flag-lieutenant to Sir Richard Bickerton, at Portsmouth; where he continued until promoted to the command of the Rapid sloop, Sept. 29th, 1813. His subsequent appointments were, – Oct. 9th, 1814,
