Royal Naval Biography/Brenton, Jahleel
SIR JAHLEEL BRENTON, Bart.
[Post-Captain of 1800.]
Knight Commander of the most Honorable Military Order of the Bath: and a Knight Grand Cross of the Neapolitan Order of St. Ferdinand and of Merit.
This officer is a son of the late Rear-Admiral Jahleel Brenton, by Henrietta, daughter of Joseph Cowley, Esq., of Wolverhampton, in Staffordshire (by Penelope, daughter and heiress of Edward Pelham, Esq.).
He was born Aug. 22, 1770; received his education at the maritime school at Chelsea; and obtained the rank of Lieutenant in 1790[1]. At the commencement of the French revolutionary war, we find him commanding the Trepassey of 12 guns, on the Newfoundland station; and subsequently serving as a Lieutenant of the Barfleur, a second rate, bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Waldegrave (now Lord Radstock), in which ship he assisted at the defeat of the Spanish fleet, under Don Josef de Cordova, off Cape St. Vincent, Feb. 14, 1797[2].
Towards the close of 1798, or early in 1799, Lieutenant Brenton was promoted to the command of the Speedy, a brig mounting fourteen 4-pounders, with a complement of 60 men. On the 9th Aug. in the latter year, he chased three of the enemy’s armed vessels into a small bay, near Cape de Gatt, where they moored in a close line, within a boat’s length of the beach. The Speedy engaged them an hour and three quarters under sail, before she could gain soundings, although not more than a cable’s length distant from the rocks; but finding the enemy had much the advantage, from her constant change of position, Captain Brenton determined to push for an anchorage, and was fortunate enough to gain one within pistol shot of the centre vessel. A warm action now took place, and lasted about three quarters of an hour; at the end of which time the enemy took to their boats, leaving the vessels to their fate. The prizes were taken possession of under a heavy fire of musketry from the surrounding hills, and 2 Spaniards found dead on their decks: the wounded were carried off by their companions. They mounted in the whole 22 guns, 6 and 9-pounders. The Defender, a privateer belonging to Gibraltar, was in company with the Speedy at the commencement of this very creditable affair; but having only 22 men on board, was obliged to stand out for the purpose of procuring assistance from a boat she had in the offing, and could not reach the anchorage till the conclusion of the action. She had 1 man wounded, the Speedy 2; but neither of them dangerously.
On the 3d Oct. following, whilst running through the Gut of Gibraltar, in sight of a British convoy, Captain Brenton observed a number of small vessels coming out of Algeziras; and concluding they were Spanish gun-boats endeavouring to cut off some of the merchantmen, steered for them in order to defeat their purpose. He soon after perceived they were coasting vessels, eight in number, under the protection of an armed cutter and schooner. All sail was now made in chase, and the two sternmost were soon separated from the others, but took shelter under the guns of a castle, which opened a heavy fire upon the Speedy as she approached, and prevented her bringing them off. Captain Brenton now pursued the main body, passing within gun-shot of the castle at Tariffa; and at length came up with and destroyed four of them in a bay to the eastward of Cape Trafalgar, without any loss on the part of the Speedy, although her boats were exposed to the fire from a fortification under which the enemy had sought refuge, and some musketry on the beach; as also to a heavy surf, which rendered their approach dangerous. Rear-Admiral Duckworth, in reporting this affair to the Admiralty, said, “It is but justice to Captain Brenton to observe, that his exertions and gallantry at all opportunities, do him the highest honor.”
Captain Brenton’s next encounter with the enemy was on his entering the Gut, with a transport ship and a merchant brig under his protection from Lisbon, Nov. 9, 1799. On that day two Spanish schooners, each carrying .two long 24-pounders and 50 men; ten other vessels of one 24-pounder, and 40 men each; and a French xebec privateer of 8 guns, pushed out from Algeziras, and directed their first assault against the transport, but without effect. They then attempted to get possession of the brig, in which they were also foiled by the skill and bravery of Captain Brenton, who passed through the midst of them, and poured in such repeated broadsides of round and grape, that they fled in , taking shelter under Fort Barbary. The Speedy on this occasion had only 3 men killed and wounded; but she was very much cut up in her hull, masts, and rigging. The Spaniards, according to their own account, lost 11 men.
To Captain Brenton, it appeared very singular that, although this brush with the enemy’s flotilla took place close to the rock, a single shot fired from Europa point was the only effort made by the garrison of Gibraltar to assist him. He consequently anchored in the bay, much out of humour with the Governor, General O’Hara; but was soon informed of the cause by his Excellency, who addressed him on his appearing at the convent[3], in the following terms:
“I conclude, Sir, you think I have treated you very ill, in not affording you assistance; but I have made arrangements with the Governor of Algeziras, to prevent this town being kept in a state of constant alarm and annoyance by the Spanish gun-boats, which in consequence are never to be fired on from the rock: there is the copy of a letter which I have written to the Admiralty, and I most sincerely wish you may obtain your promotion[4].”
The letter alluded to was so handsomely worded, that Captain Brenton could say nothing about the preceding transaction; and he was soon after rewarded for his gallantry by a post commission, appointing him to the command of the Caesar; in which ship, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Sir James Saumarez, the inhabitants of Algeziras again witnessed his exertions, on that memorable day, July 6, 1801, when our intrepid tars were unhappily thwarted by calms and currents in their attempt to cut off a French squadron, and obliged to haul off from the formidable batteries under which they had drifted, with the additional mortification of leaving the enemy to exult in the capture of a British 74[5].
Nothing daunted by this failure, Sir James Saumarez, with astonishing celerity, refitted part of his shattered squadron; and, reinforced by Captains Keats and Hollis, of the Superb and Thames, pursued his vain-glorious enemy; who, notwithstanding their immense superiority, sought for safety in an ignominious flight, during which two first rates were burnt, and a 74-gun ship borne off in triumph, by their determined opponents[6].
As the exertions that were made on board the squadron in general, and the Caesar in particular, after the battle off Algeziras, have been considered the most extraordinary in the history of naval affairs, and a lasting standard for imitation, it may be proper to detail the damages she repaired between the evening of the 6th and forenoon of the 12th. In that short space of time, she shifted her main-mast, fished and secured her fore-mast, which had been shot through in several places, knotted and spliced the rigging, plugged the shot-holes between wind and water, completed with stores of all kinds, and provisions for four months. Such was the ardour manifested by her crew, that they volunteered their services to Captain Brenton, not only to continue their exertions from dawn till dark, but to work, watch and watch, during the night. By efforts such as these, the Caesar was enabled to commence warping out of Gibraltar Mole at noon onthe 12th, swaying up her top-gallant-masts, and bending sails at the same time; and by 3 P.M., she was actually under sail, and ready to pursue the enemy, who were then turning out of the bay. It is also worthy of remark, that several of her wounded men, on hearing the ship was moving out of the Mole, escaped from the hospital, determined, if possible, to share in the new danger that awaited them. They were accordingly received on board, and went to their quarters. Sir James Saumarez, in his official despatches, makes ample mention of Captain Brenton’s able and zealous exertions on this trying and memorable occasion[7].
Captain Brenton returned to England in the Santa Dorothea, April 7, 1802, and was appointed to la Minerve frigate in November following. On the 2d July, 1803, as the latter ship, under the charge of a pilot, and during a fog, was pursuing some French vessels, she unfortunately struck upon the western point of the Cones, near Cherbourgh. Two strong forts in the neighbourhood immediately opened their fire upon her, and were soon assisted by a division of gun-vessels from the road, including two heavy brigs. Every thing that men could do, both to extricate their ship from her perilous situation, and to employ effectively the few guns that could be brought to bear, was done by Captain Brenton, his officers and crew. At length, after sustaining a fire of several hours’ duration, by which la Minerve was greatly damaged in her hull and masts, 12 men killed, and 14 or 15 badly wounded, she was obliged to strike her colours.
Captain Jurieu, of la Franchise, a French frigate, captured by the Minotaur, Thunderer, and Albion, on the 28th May preceding, was allowed to go to France, on his parole to return to England in three months, if he could not obtain the liberation of Captain Brenton. His efforts proved ineffectual; the consular government proposing to substitute three individuals, two of whom were resident in France at the renewal of the war; the other, although denominated a Colonel, was not known to belong to the navy or army of Great Britain. Captain Brenton therefore continued a prisoner at Verdun till about the commencement of 1807, when he was exchanged for M. Infernet, who had commanded l’Intrepide 74, in the battle of Trafalgar. It need hardly be stated, that on his return from captivity, Captain Brenton was not only most honorably acquitted by a court martial, of all blame on account of the loss of la Minerve, but most highly praised for his gallant defence of her[8].
Captain Brenton’s trial took place Feb. 7, 1807. In the course of the same month he was appointed to the Spartan of 46 guns; and on the 23d April, 1809, we find him, with the Amphion and Mercury frigates under his orders, driving the French garrison out of Pesaro, destroying the castle at the entrance of that port, and capturing thirteen merchant vessels, deeply laden with oil, hides, hemp, almonds, &c.
On the 2d of the following month, the Spartan and Mercury blew up the castle of Ceseratico, destroyed a battery of two 4-pounders, burnt a large vessel laden with iron, captured twelve others, partly laden with grain, and brought off a great quantity of hemp and iron, which had been collected in the magazines. This service, as well as the preceding, was accomplished without the loss of a man, although at Ceseratico, the ships and their boats were much exposed to the fire from the battery and musketry on shore.
Eight days after this affair, Captain Brenton, in concert with Baron Ocharnick, commanding a detachment of Austrian troops, compelled the garrison of the island of Lussin, on the coast of Croatia, consisting of 170 men, to surrender at discretion, after some opposition from the citadel and batteries. The allies on this occasion had only 3 men wounded.
Early in October following, Captain Brenton assisted at the capture of Zante and Cephalonia, by the naval and military forces under Captain Spranger of the Warrior, and Brigadier-General Oswald. On the 9th of the same month, he commanded at the reduction of Cerigo, an island near the Morea, defended by three forts, with a garrison of 104 men. “At Cerigo,” says Lord Collingwood, when reporting the capture of those islands, “the greatest resistance was made; but Captain Brenton’s skill and resources are such as would surmount much greater difficulties than they could present.” Captain Spranger, in his letter to the commander-in-chief, observed, that Cerigo had long been used as a place of refuge by privateers of the worst description; and duly acknowledged the advantage he had derived from Captain Brenton’s “judgment, gallantry, and activity,” during the expedition, which terminated with the fall of that island.
On the 1st May, 1810, the Spartan and Success fell in with and pursued a French squadron, consisting of the Ceres frigate, of 42 guns and 350 men; Fame corvette, 28 guns, 260 men; Sparviere brig, 8 guns, 98 men; and Achilles cutter, 10 guns, 80 men. These vessels, favored by light and partial breezes, succeeded in reaching the mole of Naples; and as Captain Brenton was sensible they would never leave that place of shelter whilst menaced by two British frigates, he directed the Success to cruise from five to ten leagues S.W. of Capri, himself continuing in the bay.
At day-light on the 3d, he had the pleasure of seeing the enemy’s squadron, accompanied by eight Neapolitan gunboats, each carrying one 24-pounder and 40 men, standing towards the Spartan in a close line. At 7h 56' A.M., he exchanged broadsides with the Ceres, then within pistol-shot, and soon after, passing along their line, cut off the Achilles and gun-boats from the main body. This obliged the enemy’s frigate, corvette, and brig, to wear for the purpose of renewing their junction; in which attempt they were foiled by the Spartan taking her station on their weather beam. A close and obstinate contest ensued: light and variable winds led them near the batteries of Baia, under which the Ceres sought protection. The crippled state of the Spartan not allowing her to follow, she bore up, and after raking the frigate and corvette, succeeded in cutting off and boarding the Sparviere. The Fame having lost her fore-top-mast, effected her escape with the assistance of the gun boats, by whose fire the Spartan had been severely galled.
For a considerable time during the battle, Captain Brenton stood upon the capstern, cheering his crew, and watching the enemy’s manoeuvres. Whilst thus employed, one of his officers requested him not to expose himself in such a manner: his reply was, “I am in no more danger here, than I should be any where else.” Soon after a grape shot struck him on the left hip, and shattered the ilium: the wound was for some time considered to be mortal. Numerous were the instances of patriotism and individual fortitude displayed by our heroic countrymen, during this unequal conflict. One of the wounded sailors, upon being told that he must lose the whole of his arm, exclaimed, “Well, take it whenever you like; it is not mine, but my king’s.” The Spartan’s total loss on this glorious occasion, amounted to 10 men killed and 22 wounded; among the latter was Mr. Willis, her first Lieutenant, whom Captain Brenton describes as “one of the best and most gallant officers he ever met with.” The enemy, according to a French account, had 30 killed and 90 wounded, exclusive of the loss sustained by the captured brig; but we have reason to believe it was much more severe[9].
Captain Brenton’s distinguished conduct in the Bay of Naples, did not pass unrewarded. The Patriotic Fund at Lloyd’s, voted him a sword, value 100 guineas; the King of the two Sicilies presented him with the Grand Cross of the Order of St. Ferdinand, and of Merit; he was raised to the dignity of a Baronet of Great Britain, Nov. 3, 1812; and nominated a K.C.B. Jan. 2, 1815. Towards the conclusion of the war, we find him commanding the Stirling Castle 74. His subsequent appointments were, early in Jan. 1814, to superintend the naval arsenal at Port Mahon; about June following, to command the Dorset yacht; and in the autumn of the same year, to be Resident Commissioner at the Cape of Good Hope. The establishment at the latter place being reduced, he returned from thence in the Vigo, a third rate, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Lambert, and arrived at Portsmouth Jan. 1, 1822.
Sir Jahleel Brenton is at present commander of the Royal Charlotte yacht; the amount of a pension granted him for the severe wound he received off Naples, is, we believe, 300l. per annum[10]. He married, first, April 10, 1802, Isabella, daughter of Anthony Stewart, Esq., late of Maryland; second, Oct. 9, 1822, Harriet, daughter of the late James Brenton, Esq., of Halifax. His first lady died at the Cape of Good Hope, July 29, 1817; and his eldest son, at Winchester School, Aug. 27, in the same year.
Captain Edward Pelham Brenton, R.N., is a brother of the subject of this memoir: another brother held the rank of Lieutenant, and was mortally wounded when commanding an attack made by the boats of the Peterell sloop of war, upon an enemy’s armed vessel near Barcelona, in 1799.
Agent.– Messrs. Maude.
- ↑ Previous to this promotion, Mr. Brenton had served as a Lieutenant in the Swedish navy, and bore a part in the desperate battle between the Russians and Swedes, in the gulf of Wibourg. See Vol. I. note §, at p. 292.
- ↑ See Vol. I. pp. 21 and 61.
- ↑ The Governor’s residence.
- ↑ See Naval History of Great Britain, by Captain Edward Pelham Brenton, Vol. II. p. 490.
- ↑ See Vol. I. p. 187.
- ↑ See Vol. I. p. 344.
- ↑ In the action of the 6th July, the Caesar had 9 men killed, 25 wounded, and 8 missing. The latter are supposed to have been taken prisoners when assisting the Hannibal. “When, in the hottest part of the action, the Caesar broke her sheer, and could not get her guns to bear on the enemy, Captain Brenton ordered a cutter to be lowered down from the stern, to convey a warp to the Audacious; but the boat was found to be knocked to pieces by the enemy’s shot. Before other means could be resorted to, Michael Collins, a young sailor belonging to the Caesar’s mizen-top, seized the end of a lead-line, and exclaiming, ‘You shall soon have a warp,’ darted from the taffrail, and swam with the line to the Audacious, where it was received, and by that means a hawser ran out, which answered the intended purpose.” See Brenton’s Naval History, vol. iii. p. 36, et seq.
- ↑ A very interesting account of Captain Brenton’s capture, imprisonment, and treatment, will be found in the third volume of his brother’s “Naval History,” published since this sheet was put in the press. See pp. 209 &c. to 234.
- ↑ The Spartan had only 258 men and boys on board at the commencement of the action, 19 being absent in a prize. The enemy, as we have already shewn, mustered in the whole 1108. Captain Ayscough, who commanded the Success, had the mortification to be becalmed outside the islands, whilst his brother officer was adding to his well-earned fame in the Bay of Naples.
- ↑ It was many years before Captain Brenton was pronounced out of danger from the effects of his wound, but which is now considered to be cured, though he will never regain the complete use of his limb.