Glorious 1st of June

Posted by Joel Burden on Saturday 21st of September 2019 22:47

Francis Pender was no longer commanding Glory (98) at the battle. He transferred to Resolution (74) in April 1794 where he served as flag captain to Rear Admiral Hon George Murray in a squadron posted to the North American station. He had a knack for missing major battles, later missing Trafalgar when he was detached from Nelson's fleet when commanding Queen (90) just a few days ahead of the engagement, being sent on a mission to obtain fresh water for the fleet from Gibraltar.

Posted by Cy on Saturday 16th of September 2017 12:45

Unfortunately the algorythm isn't clever enough to deduce that Donnelly took over when the captain was killed. I've had change Donnelly's data of command to the 2nd to show the correct Captain's name at the start of the action

Posted by Tony Willoughby on Saturday 16th of September 2017 11:48

Donnelly was not killed in this action - he was James Montagu's lieutenant and no doubt took command after Montagu's death - you have Donnelly's death down as 1840

Posted by Tony Willoughby on Wednesday 13th of September 2017 21:15

I believe that James Montagu was the captain of the Montagu, who died in this battle

Posted by cy on Sunday 3rd of September 2017 14:05

Yes, Seymour and Duckworth swapped commands at some point in 1794. At least we now know it was after 1st June. Should be showing correctly now.

Posted by Tim Oakley on Sunday 3rd of September 2017 07:02

I have Lord Hugh Seymour as being in command of Leviathan during the battle? as does the above article

Posted by Brian Stephens on Wednesday 7th of May 2014 18:27

The Gentleman's magazine. v. 64:pt. 2 (1794).
Admiralty Office, June 21 - In the extract of the journal herein enclosed, the proceedings of the fleet are stated from the time of leaving St. Helen's on the 2d of last month to that of the first discovery of the French fleet on the 28th of the same. I have now therefore to relate the subsequent transaction not already communicated in my dispatch of the 2d inst, to be delivered by my First Captain Sir Roger Curtis. Early in the morning of the 28th, the enemy were discovered by the advanced frigates far distant on the weather bow; the wind was fresh from the S. by W. with a very rough sea. They came down, for some time, in a loose order, seemingly unapprized that they had the British fleet in view. After hauling to the wind when they came nearer, they were some hours before they could completely form in regular order of sailing. The time required for the enemy to perfect their disposition had facilitated the nearer approach of his Majesty's fleet to them, and for the separately appointed and detached part of it, Commanded by Rear-Admiral Pasley, to be placed more advantageously for making an impression on their rear. The signals denoted that intention being made, the Rear-Admiral, near upon the close of day, led this division on with peculiar firmness, and attacked a three deck ship (the Revolutionaire)the stern-most in the enemy's line. Making known soon after that he had a topmast disabled, assistance was directed to be given to him in that situation. The quick approach of night only allowed me to observe that Lord Hugh Seymour (Conway) in the Leviathan, with equal good judgement and determined courage pushed up along side the three decked French ship, and was supported, as it appeared, by Capt. Parker of the Audacious, in the most spirited manner. The darkness which now prevailed did not admit of my making anymore accurate observation on the conduct of those ships and others concerned in the same service; but I have since learnt that the Leviathan stretched on farther ahead for bringing the second ship from the enemy's rear to action as soon as her former station could be occupied by a succeeding British; also that the tree decked ship in the enemy's rear as aforesaid, being unsustained, by their other ships, struck to the Audacious; and that they parted company together soon after. The two opponent fleets continued on the starboard tact in a parallel direction, the enemy still to windward, the remainder of the night. The Bristish fleet appearing in the morning of the 29th, when in order of battle, to be far enough advanced for the ships in the van to make some farther impression on the enemy's rear, tact in succession with the intent; the enemy wore hereupon from van to rear, and continued edging down in line ahead to engage the van of the British fleet. When arrived at such distance to be just able to reach our most advanced ships, as they cam successively into the wake of their respective seconds ahead, opened with that distant fire upon the head-most ships of the British van. The signal for passing through their line, made when the fleet tacked before, was then renewed. It could not be for some time seen, through the fire form the two fleets in the van, to what extent that signal was complied with. But, as the smoke at intervals dispersed, that the Caesar, the leading ship of the British van, after being about on the starboard tack and come abreast of the Queen Charlotte, had not kept to the wind; and that the appointed movement would consequently be liable to sail of the proposed effect. The Queen Charlotte was therefore immediately tacked; and, followed by the Bellerophon, her second astern, (and soon after joined by the Leviathan*) passed through in action, between the fifth and sixth ships in the rear of the enemy's line, she was put about again on the starboard-tack forthwith after the enemy, in preparation for renewing the action with the advantage of that weathermost situation. The rest of the British fleet being at this time passing to leeward and without the stern most ships, mostly of the French line, the enemy wore again to the eastward in succession for securing the disabled ships of their rear, which intention, by reason of the disunited state of the fleet, and having no more than the two crippled ships, the Bellerophon and Leviathan, at that time near me, I was unable to obstruct. The enemy, having succeeded in that operation, wore round again, after some distant cannonading of the nearest British ships, occasionally returned and stood away in order of battle on the starboard tack, followed by the British fleet in the same order(but with the weather gage retained) as soon as the ships coming forward to close with the Queen Charlotte were suitably arranged. The fleets remained separated some few miles, in view at times on the intermission of a thick fog, which lasted most part of the two next days.