Royal Naval Biography/Grant, Charles
CHARLES GRANT, Esq
A Companion of the most Honorable Military Order of the Bath; and Commodore of the Squadron employed in the East Indies.
[Post-Captain of 1800.]
This officer was made a Lieutenant in 1790; subsequently commanded the Tisiphone sloop of war on the West India station; and returned from thence in the Quebec of 32 guns, July 11, 1802. His post commission bears date Sept. 6, 1800.
Captain Grant’s next appointments were, we believe, to the Diadem 64; and Diana, a 38-gun frigate. In the latter, he conveyed Sir W. Sidney Smith from Rio Janeiro to Portsmouth, where he arrived Aug. 7, 1809.
In Oct. 1809, the Diana, having under her orders the Niobe of similar force, was employed watching the port of Havre, where the enemy had two new 40-gun frigates, waiting an opportunity to escape to sea. On the 13th of the following month, the French ships having slipt out during a N.E. gale, were discovered and obliged to take shelter under the batteries of Marcou. In the course of the same day, Captain Grant and his consort being driven by the tide to the northward of Cape Barfleur, the enemy made a push for, and succeeded in reaching the anchorage near la Hogue. On the following morning the Niobe was sent to inform the senior officer off Cherbourgh, how the Frenchmen were situated; and Captain Grant had soon after the satisfaction to see one of them run ashore. The next day the other perceiving that she was about to be attacked by the Diana, weighed and took up a position between the batteries of la Hogue and Tatilion. Captain Grant, notwithstanding the formidable force opposed to him, stood in twice close alongside of her, sustaining each time a very heavy fire, by which the Diana suffered considerably in her masts, sails, hull, and rigging. At this period Captain Malcolm of the Donegal, arrived with the Revenge and Niobe, and the attack was renewed by the four ships going in alternately, and making every exertion to destroy the enemy as long as the tide would allow them to do so; but being at length drifted to leeward, they were obliged to desist and anchor out of gun-shot. In this affair, the Donegal had 3 men wounded, the Revenge 2 killed and 8 wounded, and Diana 1 man slightly wounded.
At day-light on the 16th, one of the French frigates was observed on her beamends, and the other also aground; but as they were perfectly protected by the batteries, and as it did not appear to Captain Malcolm that any further attempt to destroy them would prove effectual, he returned to his station off Cherbourgh, leaving Captains Grant and Loring to watch la Hogue.
The following is a copy of the letter Captain Grant soon after received from his commander in-chief, dated Royal William, Spithead, Nov. 22, 1810:
“Sir.– Having transmitted to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty your letter of the 16th instant, detailing your proceedings in an attack on two of the enemy’s frigates, which escaped from Havre in the night of the 12th, and which had taken refuge under the batteries of la Hogue, I am directed by their Lordships to convey to you their approbation of the zeal, gallantry, and good conduct shewn by you, and by all the officers and men of the ships under your orders on that occasion. I am, Sir, &c. &c.
(Signed)“Roger Curtis.”
The enemy afterwards got their ships afloat, and one of them effected her escape into Havre. The other, being attacked by a bomb-vessel, was again obliged to run aground on the 6th Dec. lay a wreck until the night of the 23d, when she was set on fire and completely destroyed by the boats of the Diana, under a heavy fire from the batteries, and three armed brigs lying within hail of her. This service was performed without a man being hurt on the part of the British[1].
In 1812, Captain Grant was appointed to the Armada of 74 guns, fitting for the Mediterranean station, where he served during the remainder of the war.
On the 19th July, 1813, the marines of the Armada, and two frigates, landed and took possession of the batteries near Bordighero, a town on the coast of Italy, spiked the guns, destroyed the ammunition, and burnt all the vessels lying on the beach. In Nov. following, when forming part, of the in-shore squadron off Toulon, the Armada received a shot from one of the enemy’s fleet, which passing through the bows of her launch, lodged among the booms, without doing any farther mischief. Towards the close of the same year, she assisted in an attempt made by Sir Josias Rowley to obtain possession of Leghorn[2].
A few days after the surrender of Genoa to the British arms[3], Captain Grant was sent with the Armada, Curagoa, and twelve Sicilian gun-boats, to co-operate with a detachment of troops in the reduction of Savona; the garrison of which fortress surrendered by capitulation on the 24th April, 1814.
Our officer was nominated a C.B. in 1815, and appointed Commodore of the squadron in India, Oct. 22, 1821 . His broad pendant is flying on board the Liffey of 50 guns.
- ↑ The other frigate was subsequently destroyed by her own crew. See Captain John Wentworth Loring, C.B.
- ↑ See id. p. 633.
- ↑ See id. p. 634.