kc
13-07-2007, 10:28
HMS Benbow (3 since 1813)
Vice Admiral John Benbow; born 1653, died 1702. He joined the Navy as Master’s Mate in 1678, but soon left for the Merchant Service, and in 1686, as Captain of a ship, fought a gallant action with the Salee rovers. Re-entering the Royal Navy as Lieutenant in 1689, he rose to Captain the same year. He acted as Master of the Fleet under the Earl of Tourrington in the action off Beachy Head in 1690, and under Admiral Russell at the battle of Barfleur (La Hogue) in 1692. He then commanded a squadron employed against the French seaports 1693-1694, and became Rear Admiral in 1696. In 1698 he commanded a squadron in the Channel, and another in the West Indies the following year. Promoted to Vice Admiral in 1700, he was sent a second time to take the command in the West Indies, and on August 24th 1702, he fell in with a French squadron under Commodore du Casse, with which he kept up a running flight for four days. Deserted by several of his captains, Benbow sustained the flight almost alone, until mortally wounded on the fourth day, when he hauled off. After his death, on November 4th, several of his captains were brought to trial and two of them shot for cowardice.
Vice Admiral John Benbow; born 1653, died 1702. He joined the Navy as Master’s Mate in 1678, but soon left for the Merchant Service, and in 1686, as Captain of a ship, fought a gallant action with the Salee rovers. Re-entering the Royal Navy as Lieutenant in 1689, he rose to Captain the same year. He acted as Master of the Fleet under the Earl of Tourrington in the action off Beachy Head in 1690, and under Admiral Russell at the battle of Barfleur (La Hogue) in 1692. He then commanded a squadron employed against the French seaports 1693-1694, and became Rear Admiral in 1696. In 1698 he commanded a squadron in the Channel, and another in the West Indies the following year. Promoted to Vice Admiral in 1700, he was sent a second time to take the command in the West Indies, and on August 24th 1702, he fell in with a French squadron under Commodore du Casse, with which he kept up a running flight for four days. Deserted by several of his captains, Benbow sustained the flight almost alone, until mortally wounded on the fourth day, when he hauled off. After his death, on November 4th, several of his captains were brought to trial and two of them shot for cowardice.