Royal Naval Biography/Carpenter, James
JAMES CARPENTER, Esq
Vice-Admiral of the Blue.
This officer is an old follower of the present veteran Admiral of the Fleet, whom he accompanied to the West Indies as a Lieutenant of his flag-ship, the Boyne of 98 guns, and was there promoted to the command of the Nautilus sloop. He served on shore with a detachment of seamen under the orders of Captain Eliab Harvey, at the reduction of Martinique in 1794; and received the public thanks of Sir Charles Grey, the military Commander-in-Chief, for his active co-operation. He was advanced to the rank of Post-Captain in the Bien Venu, a prize frigate by commission bearing date March 25, 1794. From that ship he afterwards removed into the Alarm of 32 guns; and early in the following year, co-operated with the army under General Sir John Vaughan in reducing to submission the Charibs and negroes of St. Vincent, Grenada, and Dominica, who, encouraged by the French republicans from Guadaloupe, were committing the most horrid acts of cruelty on the defenceless inhabitants, putting to death men, women, and children; and burning the plantations. The insurgents were completely defeated with great slaughter in several attacks. The loss on the part of the British was also considerable. Sir John Vaughan, in his public despatches, particularly mentioned the zeal and activity at all times manifested by our officer whilst employed on this service. About the same time, the Alarm, in company with the Bellona, 74, captured le Duras, of 20 guns and 70 men, having on board 400 troops, off the island of Deseada.
In 1799, we find Captain Carpenter commanding the Leviathan of 74 guns, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Duckworth, with whom he had formerly been a messmate. On the 5th April, 1800, that ship, while cruizing near the Gut of Gibraltar, in company with the Swiftsure, 74, and Emerald frigate, had the good fortune to fall in with a convoy that had sailed from Cadiz a short time previous, bound to Lima. On the two following days, the squadron succeeded in capturing two frigates, each mounting 36 guns, having on board 3,000 quintals of quicksilver, together with eleven sail of merchantmen richly laden, the whole of which were conducted in safety to Gibraltar. The Spanish frigates used the greatest exertions to get off, and displayed a gallantry in commencing an action with such a superior force, as might be truly termed temerity. They had 23 men killed and 28 wounded. On board one of them the Archbishop of Buenos Ayres was a passenger.
In the month of June following, Rear-Admiral Duckworth having been appointed to the command at the Leeward islands, proceeded thither from the Mediterranean, in the Leviathan, accompanied by Captain Carpenter, who invalided soon after his arrival in the West Indies, and took a passage to England in the Charlotte merchant vessel, which was escorted to the northward of the islands by the Gypsey tender, of 10 guns and 42 men, commanded by Lieutenant Coryndon Boger.
On the 8th October, the Gypsey being off the north end of Guadaloupe. fell in with a French sloop, and after a very gallant and severe conflict, compelled her to strike. She proved to be the Quidproquo, of 8 guns and 98 men, 80 of whom were Guadaloupe chasseurs. The loss on the part of the British was 3 men killed, and 9 (including Lieutenant Boger) wounded. The enemy had 5 killed and 11 wounded.
Captain Carpenter subsequently commanded the Antelope of 50 guns. He was made a Rear-Admiral, Aug. 12, 1812; and attained his present rank on the 12th Aug. 1819.