Adm. Sir P. C.C. Henderson-Durham
April 2. At Naples, in his 83rd year, Admired Sir Philip Charles Calderwood Henderson-Durham, G.C.B., Grand Cross of the Sword of Sweden, and of St. Ferdinand and Merit of Sicily; Equerry to the Duke of Cambridge, and Deputy-Lieutenant of Fifeshire.
Sir Philip was the third son of James Calderwood Durham, esq. of Largo, in Fifeshire. He entered the Navy in 1777. He was midshipman of the Edgar, 74, Captain John Elliot, which ship formed part of Sir George Rodney's fleet at the defeat and capture of the Spanish Admiral Don Juan de Langara, and the relief of Gibraltar in 1780. He was afterwards acting Lieutenant and signal officer of the Viceroy, 104, flag-ship of Rear-Adm. Kempenfelt, and followed that gallant officer on his removing into the Royal George. He continued in that ship until the fatal catastrophe which befel her at Spithead, August 29, 1782. He was officer of the watch at the time,
"When Admiral Kempenfelt went down with twice four hundred men." After his almost miraculous escape* he was appointed acting Lieutenant of the Union, 98, at the relief of Gibraltar, by Earl Howe, and in the subsequent action off Cape Spartel in the same year. He was confirmed in his rank as Lieutenant on the 26th Dec. 1782, and was made a Commander 12th Nov. 1790. He was appointed to command the Spitfire, in which sloop he captured several French privateers in 1793.
He was promoted to post rank on the 24th of June in that year, and was appointed to the Hind, 28, and in this vessel fought with six frigates in 1794. Subsequently he was appointed to the Anson, 46, which ship formed part of Sir John B. Warren's expedition against Quiberon in 1795. In this frigate he displayed consummate gallantry, and exercised the soundest judgment, which led to the most glorious results. He assisted at the capture of 1'Etoile, 30, in March, 1796 ; at the destruction of la Calliope frigate, July 27, 1797 ; at the capture of la Flore, 30, the same year, and in the action with Mons. Bompard, Oct. 12, 1797. It was in the same month of this year (the 18th) that he fought his gallant action with la Loire, 46, capturing that frigate, and also at various times several French and Spanish privateers. He afterwards continued his useful services in co-operation with the French Royalists on the coast of La Vendee in 1799. He captured a large privateer of 18 guns, and intercepted the late Governor of Batavia in April, 1800; and in the month of June in that year had repeated brushes with the Algesiras flotilla. Leaving the Anson, he was appointed to the Endymion, and was soon at his old trade, for he captured a privateer of 14 guns on April 13, 1801. The next command was that of the new line-of-battle ship the Defience, 74, in which ship he took a most active part in Sir Robert Calder's action with the combined fleets of France and Spain, on the 22d July, and at the ever memorable battle of Trafalgar on the 21st of October, 1805. Subsequently he hoisted a broad pendant as Commodore, commanding the third division of the Mediterranean fleet, and was present at the destruction of two French line-of-battle ships, near Frontignan, October 26, 1809. He attained the rank of Rear-Admiral 31st July, 1810, and was employed in the North Sea in 1811. Afterwards he hoisted his flag in the Venerable, having been appointed Commander-in-chief on the Leeward Islands station in 1813, and in January of the following year captured the two French 44-gun frigates Alcmene and Iphigenia. He was nominated a K.C.B. Jan. 2, 1815, and in that year as the naval commander-in-chief assisted Lieut-General Sir James Leith in reducing Guadaloupe. Thus perhaps no officer in the navy was so continuously engaged from 1780 to 1815, when the last Buonapartean flag that flew in the West Indies was struck to this officer in the August of that year. He received both honorary and pecuniary rewards, and had a medal granted to him for the battle of Trafalgar. He was made Vice-Admiral on the 12th Aug. 1819, and full Admiral on the 22d July, 1820; and on the 17th November of that year he was nominated a G.C.B., and was also Commander of the Military Order of Merit of France, conferred for the capture of Guadaloupe in 1815, and was the only British subject, it is believed, who wore the cross of that order. His last service was that of Commander-in-chief at Portsmouth, where he struck his flag in November, 1839.
Sir Philip Durham was member for Queenborough in the Parliament of 1830, and for Devizes from 1835 to Feb. 1836, having previously unsuccessfully contested the latter town in 1832.
He married first, March 28,1799, Lady Charlotte Bruce, third daughter of Charles Earl of Elgin and Kincardine; she died without issue Feb. 21, 1816; secondly, Oct. 16, 1817, Anne, only daughter and heiress of the late Sir John Henderson, of Fordel, co. Fife; upon which he assumed the name of Henderson before Durham. Her ladyship died at Fordel House, on the 18th Dec. last.
* The circumstances of this escape were thus related by himself: When the Royal George was going down, Lieutenant Durham threw off his coat and dashed into the water, where he was seized by a drowning marine, by whom he was twice carried down; on rising the second time, Lieutenant Durham succeeded in extricating himself from the dying man's grasp by tearing off his waistcoat, and he, with one of the seamen, was eventually saved by seizing the halyards from the mizentop-mast-head, by which they reached the mast-head, from whence they were taken with great difficulty by a boat. The poor marine's body was washed on shore a fortnight afterwards, with the waistcoat, by which he had caught hold of Lieutenant Durham, so firmly twisted round his arm, that a pencil case, bearing the Lieutenant's initials, was found safe in the pocket and restored to the owner. The Captain (Waghorn) under whose direction, with that of the First Lieutenant (Sanders), the ship was careening, was on the quarterdeck at the time the accident occurred, and ran down to warn the Admiral, who was in his cabin, but he was unable to "effect his purpose, from the cabin door having become fixed. When Lieutenant Durham had reached a place of temporary security, he observed the Captain holding by the weather mizen-top-sail-yard-arm, and sent a boat to his aid. These two were the only officers saved.”
From the Google book - The Gentleman's Magazine by Sylvanus Urban, 1845.
April 2. At Naples, in his 83rd year, Admired Sir Philip Charles Calderwood Henderson-Durham, G.C.B., Grand Cross of the Sword of Sweden, and of St. Ferdinand and Merit of Sicily; Equerry to the Duke of Cambridge, and Deputy-Lieutenant of Fifeshire.
Sir Philip was the third son of James Calderwood Durham, esq. of Largo, in Fifeshire. He entered the Navy in 1777. He was midshipman of the Edgar, 74, Captain John Elliot, which ship formed part of Sir George Rodney's fleet at the defeat and capture of the Spanish Admiral Don Juan de Langara, and the relief of Gibraltar in 1780. He was afterwards acting Lieutenant and signal officer of the Viceroy, 104, flag-ship of Rear-Adm. Kempenfelt, and followed that gallant officer on his removing into the Royal George. He continued in that ship until the fatal catastrophe which befel her at Spithead, August 29, 1782. He was officer of the watch at the time,
"When Admiral Kempenfelt went down with twice four hundred men." After his almost miraculous escape* he was appointed acting Lieutenant of the Union, 98, at the relief of Gibraltar, by Earl Howe, and in the subsequent action off Cape Spartel in the same year. He was confirmed in his rank as Lieutenant on the 26th Dec. 1782, and was made a Commander 12th Nov. 1790. He was appointed to command the Spitfire, in which sloop he captured several French privateers in 1793.
He was promoted to post rank on the 24th of June in that year, and was appointed to the Hind, 28, and in this vessel fought with six frigates in 1794. Subsequently he was appointed to the Anson, 46, which ship formed part of Sir John B. Warren's expedition against Quiberon in 1795. In this frigate he displayed consummate gallantry, and exercised the soundest judgment, which led to the most glorious results. He assisted at the capture of 1'Etoile, 30, in March, 1796 ; at the destruction of la Calliope frigate, July 27, 1797 ; at the capture of la Flore, 30, the same year, and in the action with Mons. Bompard, Oct. 12, 1797. It was in the same month of this year (the 18th) that he fought his gallant action with la Loire, 46, capturing that frigate, and also at various times several French and Spanish privateers. He afterwards continued his useful services in co-operation with the French Royalists on the coast of La Vendee in 1799. He captured a large privateer of 18 guns, and intercepted the late Governor of Batavia in April, 1800; and in the month of June in that year had repeated brushes with the Algesiras flotilla. Leaving the Anson, he was appointed to the Endymion, and was soon at his old trade, for he captured a privateer of 14 guns on April 13, 1801. The next command was that of the new line-of-battle ship the Defience, 74, in which ship he took a most active part in Sir Robert Calder's action with the combined fleets of France and Spain, on the 22d July, and at the ever memorable battle of Trafalgar on the 21st of October, 1805. Subsequently he hoisted a broad pendant as Commodore, commanding the third division of the Mediterranean fleet, and was present at the destruction of two French line-of-battle ships, near Frontignan, October 26, 1809. He attained the rank of Rear-Admiral 31st July, 1810, and was employed in the North Sea in 1811. Afterwards he hoisted his flag in the Venerable, having been appointed Commander-in-chief on the Leeward Islands station in 1813, and in January of the following year captured the two French 44-gun frigates Alcmene and Iphigenia. He was nominated a K.C.B. Jan. 2, 1815, and in that year as the naval commander-in-chief assisted Lieut-General Sir James Leith in reducing Guadaloupe. Thus perhaps no officer in the navy was so continuously engaged from 1780 to 1815, when the last Buonapartean flag that flew in the West Indies was struck to this officer in the August of that year. He received both honorary and pecuniary rewards, and had a medal granted to him for the battle of Trafalgar. He was made Vice-Admiral on the 12th Aug. 1819, and full Admiral on the 22d July, 1820; and on the 17th November of that year he was nominated a G.C.B., and was also Commander of the Military Order of Merit of France, conferred for the capture of Guadaloupe in 1815, and was the only British subject, it is believed, who wore the cross of that order. His last service was that of Commander-in-chief at Portsmouth, where he struck his flag in November, 1839.
Sir Philip Durham was member for Queenborough in the Parliament of 1830, and for Devizes from 1835 to Feb. 1836, having previously unsuccessfully contested the latter town in 1832.
He married first, March 28,1799, Lady Charlotte Bruce, third daughter of Charles Earl of Elgin and Kincardine; she died without issue Feb. 21, 1816; secondly, Oct. 16, 1817, Anne, only daughter and heiress of the late Sir John Henderson, of Fordel, co. Fife; upon which he assumed the name of Henderson before Durham. Her ladyship died at Fordel House, on the 18th Dec. last.
* The circumstances of this escape were thus related by himself: When the Royal George was going down, Lieutenant Durham threw off his coat and dashed into the water, where he was seized by a drowning marine, by whom he was twice carried down; on rising the second time, Lieutenant Durham succeeded in extricating himself from the dying man's grasp by tearing off his waistcoat, and he, with one of the seamen, was eventually saved by seizing the halyards from the mizentop-mast-head, by which they reached the mast-head, from whence they were taken with great difficulty by a boat. The poor marine's body was washed on shore a fortnight afterwards, with the waistcoat, by which he had caught hold of Lieutenant Durham, so firmly twisted round his arm, that a pencil case, bearing the Lieutenant's initials, was found safe in the pocket and restored to the owner. The Captain (Waghorn) under whose direction, with that of the First Lieutenant (Sanders), the ship was careening, was on the quarterdeck at the time the accident occurred, and ran down to warn the Admiral, who was in his cabin, but he was unable to "effect his purpose, from the cabin door having become fixed. When Lieutenant Durham had reached a place of temporary security, he observed the Captain holding by the weather mizen-top-sail-yard-arm, and sent a boat to his aid. These two were the only officers saved.”
From the Google book - The Gentleman's Magazine by Sylvanus Urban, 1845.
Adm. Sir P. C.C. Henderson-Durham
April 2. At Naples, in his 83rd year, Admired Sir Philip Charles Calderwood Henderson-Durham, G.C.B., Grand Cross of the Sword of Sweden, and of St. Ferdinand and Merit of Sicily; Equerry to the Duke of Cambridge, and Deputy-Lieutenant of Fifeshire.
Sir Philip was the third son of James Calderwood Durham, esq. of Largo, in Fifeshire. He entered the Navy in 1777. He was midshipman of the Edgar, 74, Captain John Elliot, which ship formed part of Sir George Rodney's fleet at the defeat and capture of the Spanish Admiral Don Juan de Langara, and the relief of Gibraltar in 1780. He was afterwards acting Lieutenant and signal officer of the Viceroy, 104, flag-ship of Rear-Adm. Kempenfelt, and followed that gallant officer on his removing into the Royal George. He continued in that ship until the fatal catastrophe which befel her at Spithead, August 29, 1782. He was officer of the watch at the time,
"When Admiral Kempenfelt went down with twice four hundred men." After his almost miraculous escape* he was appointed acting Lieutenant of the Union, 98, at the relief of Gibraltar, by Earl Howe, and in the subsequent action off Cape Spartel in the same year. He was confirmed in his rank as Lieutenant on the 26th Dec. 1782, and was made a Commander 12th Nov. 1790. He was appointed to command the Spitfire, in which sloop he captured several French privateers in 1793.
He was promoted to post rank on the 24th of June in that year, and was appointed to the Hind, 28, and in this vessel fought with six frigates in 1794. Subsequently he was appointed to the Anson, 46, which ship formed part of Sir John B. Warren's expedition against Quiberon in 1795. In this frigate he displayed consummate gallantry, and exercised the soundest judgment, which led to the most glorious results. He assisted at the capture of 1'Etoile, 30, in March, 1796 ; at the destruction of la Calliope frigate, July 27, 1797 ; at the capture of la Flore, 30, the same year, and in the action with Mons. Bompard, Oct. 12, 1797. It was in the same month of this year (the 18th) that he fought his gallant action with la Loire, 46, capturing that frigate, and also at various times several French and Spanish privateers. He afterwards continued his useful services in co-operation with the French Royalists on the coast of La Vendee in 1799. He captured a large privateer of 18 guns, and intercepted the late Governor of Batavia in April, 1800; and in the month of June in that year had repeated brushes with the Algesiras flotilla. Leaving the Anson, he was appointed to the Endymion, and was soon at his old trade, for he captured a privateer of 14 guns on April 13, 1801. The next command was that of the new line-of-battle ship the Defience, 74, in which ship he took a most active part in Sir Robert Calder's action with the combined fleets of France and Spain, on the 22d July, and at the ever memorable battle of Trafalgar on the 21st of October, 1805. Subsequently he hoisted a broad pendant as Commodore, commanding the third division of the Mediterranean fleet, and was present at the destruction of two French line-of-battle ships, near Frontignan, October 26, 1809. He attained the rank of Rear-Admiral 31st July, 1810, and was employed in the North Sea in 1811. Afterwards he hoisted his flag in the Venerable, having been appointed Commander-in-chief on the Leeward Islands station in 1813, and in January of the following year captured the two French 44-gun frigates Alcmene and Iphigenia. He was nominated a K.C.B. Jan. 2, 1815, and in that year as the naval commander-in-chief assisted Lieut-General Sir James Leith in reducing Guadaloupe. Thus perhaps no officer in the navy was so continuously engaged from 1780 to 1815, when the last Buonapartean flag that flew in the West Indies was struck to this officer in the August of that year. He received both honorary and pecuniary rewards, and had a medal granted to him for the battle of Trafalgar. He was made Vice-Admiral on the 12th Aug. 1819, and full Admiral on the 22d July, 1820; and on the 17th November of that year he was nominated a G.C.B., and was also Commander of the Military Order of Merit of France, conferred for the capture of Guadaloupe in 1815, and was the only British subject, it is believed, who wore the cross of that order. His last service was that of Commander-in-chief at Portsmouth, where he struck his flag in November, 1839.
Sir Philip Durham was member for Queenborough in the Parliament of 1830, and for Devizes from 1835 to Feb. 1836, having previously unsuccessfully contested the latter town in 1832.
He married first, March 28,1799, Lady Charlotte Bruce, third daughter of Charles Earl of Elgin and Kincardine; she died without issue Feb. 21, 1816; secondly, Oct. 16, 1817, Anne, only daughter and heiress of the late Sir John Henderson, of Fordel, co. Fife; upon which he assumed the name of Henderson before Durham. Her ladyship died at Fordel House, on the 18th Dec. last.
* The circumstances of this escape were thus related by himself: When the Royal George was going down, Lieutenant Durham threw off his coat and dashed into the water, where he was seized by a drowning marine, by whom he was twice carried down; on rising the second time, Lieutenant Durham succeeded in extricating himself from the dying man's grasp by tearing off his waistcoat, and he, with one of the seamen, was eventually saved by seizing the halyards from the mizentop-mast-head, by which they reached the mast-head, from whence they were taken with great difficulty by a boat. The poor marine's body was washed on shore a fortnight afterwards, with the waistcoat, by which he had caught hold of Lieutenant Durham, so firmly twisted round his arm, that a pencil case, bearing the Lieutenant's initials, was found safe in the pocket and restored to the owner. The Captain (Waghorn) under whose direction, with that of the First Lieutenant (Sanders), the ship was careening, was on the quarterdeck at the time the accident occurred, and ran down to warn the Admiral, who was in his cabin, but he was unable to "effect his purpose, from the cabin door having become fixed. When Lieutenant Durham had reached a place of temporary security, he observed the Captain holding by the weather mizen-top-sail-yard-arm, and sent a boat to his aid. These two were the only officers saved.”
From the Google book - The Gentleman's Magazine by Sylvanus Urban, 1845.
April 2. At Naples, in his 83rd year, Admired Sir Philip Charles Calderwood Henderson-Durham, G.C.B., Grand Cross of the Sword of Sweden, and of St. Ferdinand and Merit of Sicily; Equerry to the Duke of Cambridge, and Deputy-Lieutenant of Fifeshire.
Sir Philip was the third son of James Calderwood Durham, esq. of Largo, in Fifeshire. He entered the Navy in 1777. He was midshipman of the Edgar, 74, Captain John Elliot, which ship formed part of Sir George Rodney's fleet at the defeat and capture of the Spanish Admiral Don Juan de Langara, and the relief of Gibraltar in 1780. He was afterwards acting Lieutenant and signal officer of the Viceroy, 104, flag-ship of Rear-Adm. Kempenfelt, and followed that gallant officer on his removing into the Royal George. He continued in that ship until the fatal catastrophe which befel her at Spithead, August 29, 1782. He was officer of the watch at the time,
"When Admiral Kempenfelt went down with twice four hundred men." After his almost miraculous escape* he was appointed acting Lieutenant of the Union, 98, at the relief of Gibraltar, by Earl Howe, and in the subsequent action off Cape Spartel in the same year. He was confirmed in his rank as Lieutenant on the 26th Dec. 1782, and was made a Commander 12th Nov. 1790. He was appointed to command the Spitfire, in which sloop he captured several French privateers in 1793.
He was promoted to post rank on the 24th of June in that year, and was appointed to the Hind, 28, and in this vessel fought with six frigates in 1794. Subsequently he was appointed to the Anson, 46, which ship formed part of Sir John B. Warren's expedition against Quiberon in 1795. In this frigate he displayed consummate gallantry, and exercised the soundest judgment, which led to the most glorious results. He assisted at the capture of 1'Etoile, 30, in March, 1796 ; at the destruction of la Calliope frigate, July 27, 1797 ; at the capture of la Flore, 30, the same year, and in the action with Mons. Bompard, Oct. 12, 1797. It was in the same month of this year (the 18th) that he fought his gallant action with la Loire, 46, capturing that frigate, and also at various times several French and Spanish privateers. He afterwards continued his useful services in co-operation with the French Royalists on the coast of La Vendee in 1799. He captured a large privateer of 18 guns, and intercepted the late Governor of Batavia in April, 1800; and in the month of June in that year had repeated brushes with the Algesiras flotilla. Leaving the Anson, he was appointed to the Endymion, and was soon at his old trade, for he captured a privateer of 14 guns on April 13, 1801. The next command was that of the new line-of-battle ship the Defience, 74, in which ship he took a most active part in Sir Robert Calder's action with the combined fleets of France and Spain, on the 22d July, and at the ever memorable battle of Trafalgar on the 21st of October, 1805. Subsequently he hoisted a broad pendant as Commodore, commanding the third division of the Mediterranean fleet, and was present at the destruction of two French line-of-battle ships, near Frontignan, October 26, 1809. He attained the rank of Rear-Admiral 31st July, 1810, and was employed in the North Sea in 1811. Afterwards he hoisted his flag in the Venerable, having been appointed Commander-in-chief on the Leeward Islands station in 1813, and in January of the following year captured the two French 44-gun frigates Alcmene and Iphigenia. He was nominated a K.C.B. Jan. 2, 1815, and in that year as the naval commander-in-chief assisted Lieut-General Sir James Leith in reducing Guadaloupe. Thus perhaps no officer in the navy was so continuously engaged from 1780 to 1815, when the last Buonapartean flag that flew in the West Indies was struck to this officer in the August of that year. He received both honorary and pecuniary rewards, and had a medal granted to him for the battle of Trafalgar. He was made Vice-Admiral on the 12th Aug. 1819, and full Admiral on the 22d July, 1820; and on the 17th November of that year he was nominated a G.C.B., and was also Commander of the Military Order of Merit of France, conferred for the capture of Guadaloupe in 1815, and was the only British subject, it is believed, who wore the cross of that order. His last service was that of Commander-in-chief at Portsmouth, where he struck his flag in November, 1839.
Sir Philip Durham was member for Queenborough in the Parliament of 1830, and for Devizes from 1835 to Feb. 1836, having previously unsuccessfully contested the latter town in 1832.
He married first, March 28,1799, Lady Charlotte Bruce, third daughter of Charles Earl of Elgin and Kincardine; she died without issue Feb. 21, 1816; secondly, Oct. 16, 1817, Anne, only daughter and heiress of the late Sir John Henderson, of Fordel, co. Fife; upon which he assumed the name of Henderson before Durham. Her ladyship died at Fordel House, on the 18th Dec. last.
* The circumstances of this escape were thus related by himself: When the Royal George was going down, Lieutenant Durham threw off his coat and dashed into the water, where he was seized by a drowning marine, by whom he was twice carried down; on rising the second time, Lieutenant Durham succeeded in extricating himself from the dying man's grasp by tearing off his waistcoat, and he, with one of the seamen, was eventually saved by seizing the halyards from the mizentop-mast-head, by which they reached the mast-head, from whence they were taken with great difficulty by a boat. The poor marine's body was washed on shore a fortnight afterwards, with the waistcoat, by which he had caught hold of Lieutenant Durham, so firmly twisted round his arm, that a pencil case, bearing the Lieutenant's initials, was found safe in the pocket and restored to the owner. The Captain (Waghorn) under whose direction, with that of the First Lieutenant (Sanders), the ship was careening, was on the quarterdeck at the time the accident occurred, and ran down to warn the Admiral, who was in his cabin, but he was unable to "effect his purpose, from the cabin door having become fixed. When Lieutenant Durham had reached a place of temporary security, he observed the Captain holding by the weather mizen-top-sail-yard-arm, and sent a boat to his aid. These two were the only officers saved.”
From the Google book - The Gentleman's Magazine by Sylvanus Urban, 1845.
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