morethannelson - Richard Hiscocks

OK - Naval History may not be up everyone's alley, so periodically I'll post links to articles or biographies which the non-anoraks might find interesting, and in so doing I'll surreptitiously try to lure them in.....

3 July 1801 // 14-gun brig sloop HMS Speedy, under the command of Lord Cochrane and cruising off southern Spain, chased and burned some local shipping near Alicante on 2 July. At dawn on 3 July three large ships were sighted, approaching to investigate the burning ships. [1/3]

Visiting Wakehurst Place this morning I thought that the last sentence on this information board about Admiral Joseph Payton looked familiar. Lo and behold it’s come from my biography. Fame at last! (Not that anybody but me would know) morethannelson.com/officer/joseph…

On 3 July 1797 a tragedy occurred in the Admiralty building in the heart of London when Captain John Eaton of HMS Marlborough took his own life. Here is the sorry tale: morethannelson.com/captain-eaton-…

The son of King George III's wet-nurse, 2 of Rear-Admiral Richard Smith's own children suffered mental illness, leading some contemporary physicians to ascribe the monarch's madness to the suckling he had received as an infant. Here is Smith's biography: morethannelson.com/officer/richar…

The Spanish galleon Andalucia is making her way into Bristol

From the archives of All Things Georgian, 'Anyone for 18th Century Tennis?' - wp.me/p3JTNy-2XA #Tennis #18thc

From the archives of All Things Georgian, 'Billy Butterworth, The Oldham Hermit' - wp.me/p3JTNy-6Nb #MondayBlogs #18thc #oldham

Barely any Georgian stuff at the Halifax Naval Museum barring this painting by the future Rear Admiral George Tobin of the commissioner’s house. Tobin was a lieutenant aboard Captain Alexander Cochrane’s ‘Thetis’ at the time

Saw this in the Naval Museum at Halifax, Nova Scotia - thought it might appeal to some fellow historians.

Came across this beauty in Baddeck, Cape Breton Island today. It was rescued from the wreck of HMS Tilbury which was lost near Louisbourg in 1757. Captain Barnsley and 120 men lost their lives in the wreck.

The Battle of Grenada was fought on this day in 1779. The French got the better of the engagement resulting in a British failure to recapture the island. Fortunately, no British ships were lost, although many were disabled. Here’s our take on the battle: morethannelson.com/battle-grenada…

Our take on the Battle of Charleston 28 June 1776. morethannelson.com/the-attack-on-…

Three stages of steps to climb the Heights of Quebec to reach the Plains of Abraham. General Wolfe must have had it easier than this.

There are cannons all over Quebec City. I particularly liked these anti- aircraft pieces

Ridiculously thrilled to be at Quebec and imagining Captain Linzee’s HMS Surprise rounding that river bend to lead the relief of the beleaguered city in 1776. A good excuse to repost this: morethannelson.com/the-relief-of-…

26 June 1813 // Brig-sloop HMS Persian ran aground on Silver Cays Bank north of Hispaniola. She was at first refloated but she grounded again and broke her back. No lives were lost. (Philip John Ouless, 'Wreck of HM Sloop Persian' c1850, Wikimedia Commons) #RoyalNavy #Shipwreck

26 June 1782 // 14-gun HMS Alligator, returning from West Africa, was captured by 32-gun French frigate La Fée off the Scilly Isles. For two hours she held off her much larger opponent but eventually, much damaged, with 3 dead and 12 wounded, was forced to surrender. #RoyalNavy

HEART OF OAK IS LOOKING FOR WRITERS As part of our mission to grow the Heart of Oak platform, we are inviting (ex-)service members of the Royal Navy, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Canadian Navy and Royal New Zealand Navy, who would like to share their stories with a wider…

When the naval mutinies of May 1797 reached the North Sea fleet, Admiral Adam Duncan utilised his imposing stature and personality to keep two key ships loyal, and whilst the rest of his fleet sailed away, he maintained his blockade of the Dutch coast. morethannelson.com/mutiny-in-the-…

As a young man, Admiral Hon. Sir Henry Edwyn Stanhope (1754-1814) experienced many adventures in the American War of Independence. He might have expected a long and brilliant career, but he was dogged by ill health, reducing his opportunities for success. morethannelson.com/officer/hon-si…