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Admiral John Benbow

The name of John Benbow does not leap readily to mind, even to the mind of an Englishman, when considering maritime heroes. There was, before the time of Rodney and Nelson, no name more popular among the sailors of the British navy than that of Admiral Benbow. He had been a sailor himself, and he was, while living, the sailors' idol; and since his death his memory has been held in much reverence by the Jack Tars of that and every succeeding age. The thorough sagacity, honesty, and gallantry he displayed in his many daring ventures had taken, too, with the general public: and " old Benbow," as he was familiarly called (though really never an old man) was looked on as the model of a rough and real British seaman, suited for all weather and all war. He and his deeds have been the subject of many a naval song and story, and his likeness was formerly a common sign for public houses throughout the country. Robert Louis Stephenson's Treasure Island opens with "I take up my pen in the year of grace 17-,° and go back to the time when my father kept the "Admiral Benbow" inn, and the brown old seaman, with the sabre cut, first took up his lodging under our roof."

By one account, John Benbow was born in a house at Cotton Hill, Shrewsbury, in the year 1650. His uncle, Thomas Benbow, was Colonel in the service of King Charles I and was shot at Shrewsbury. John, a younger brother, and father of the Admiral, was also a Colonel in the King's army; but on the ruin of the King's party, after encountering many difficulties, he retired and lived privately during the Usurpation. According to one story, which, however, is doubtful, on the Restoration, being considerably advanced in years, and his affairs having been ruined in consequence of his loyalty, he was glad to accept a small office in the Tower, where he was accidentally found by the King. On his Majesty observing the Colonel, he exclaimed, "bring this gentleman to me tomorrow, and I will provide for him and his family as it becomes me." This promise was not fulfilled ; the worthy Benbow, overcome by so sudden a reverse of fortune, set down on a bench, and expired, before the King was well out of the Tower. It does not appear that the Monarch took any notice of the son ; for, at the age of 15, he is said to have been under the necessity of becoming a waterman's boy, for his immediate subsistence.

However, the records of the the State Trials relate that a Captain John Benbow (he may have never been colonel, or his promotion of colonel might be looked on as illegal in the eyes of the Commonwealth) was tried on the 1st of October 1651, by a Roundhead court-martial. Captain John Benbow was sentenced to be shot at Shrewsbury on the 15th of the same month, but there is no statement, in the State Trials at least, that John Benbow was actually executed.

In Owen and Blakeway's History of Shrewsbury, the ancient descent and parentage of the admiral, as above given, are, on very good argument, altogether denied. They state the admiral to have been the son of William Benbow, of Cotton Hill, tanner and burgess of Shrewsbury, and to have had no uncle, Colonel Thomas Benbow, and only an uncle, Captain John Benbow, who was actually (and no doubt pursuant to the sentence recorded in the State Trials) shot in the Bowling Green of Shrewsbury on the 15th of October, 1651.

By another telling, John Benbow started life in 1653 in the county town of Shrewsbury in Shropshire as the son of a humble tanner. Legend has it that he was apprenticed to a butcher but, hating the trade so much, he ran away to sea. Little is known of his early career though he would have joined as an ordinary seaman, subject to all the rigors and privations common to that rank. He must have been good at his job for at the age of 25 he was serving in the Mediterranean as master's mate. His career in the Navy began in 1678 fighting pirates in the Mediterranean. Before long he was driven out by his temper and harsh tongue, court martialled for insulting a fellow officer.

Little is said of him till he was near 30 years of age, when he became master, and, in a great measure, owner, of a ship called the Benbow frigate, employed in the Mediterranean trade. In 1686, an incident occurred, which gave a sudden turn to his fortune, and brought him to serve in the British Navy. Being attacked on his passage to Cadiz, by a Sallee rover, Benbow defended himself, though very inferior in number, with the utmost bravery, till at last the Moors boarded him, but were beat out of the vessel, with the loss of 13 men, whose heads he ordered to be cut off, and thrown into a tub of pork pickle.

This adventure recommended him to the notice and admiration of Charles II. King of Spain, who not only made him a handiome present, but also wrote a letter to King James II of England, who, upon his return, gave him the command of a ship in the Royal Navy ; but it was not till after the Revolution that he particularly distinguished himself. Benbow, it should be observed, rose to the first offices in the Navy by pure merit, without any court interest, or private intrigue. He signalized himself by several descents upon the French coast, and pursued for some time, the famous Du Bart. He became an admiral in 1694, and in 1700 King William III, it is said, granted him an honourable augmentation to his arms [but there is no evidence that Benbow was armigerous]. King William wanted a commander for his West India fleet, and the king is reported to have said, " I must get a beau of another sort, honest Benbow." Benbow said, " he knew no difference of climates, and, for his part, he thought no officer had a right to choose his station, that he himself should be, at all times, ready to go to any part of the world to which his majesty thought proper to send him." He was sent to the West Indies, where he signalized himself in relieving the British colonies ; and, in some disputes with the Spaniards, he maintained the honor of his flag. For these services, on his return home, the greatest respect was shown to him.

William Kidd, [Captain Kidd] (c. 1645-1701), the privateer and pirate, received the king's commission to arrest and bring to trial all pirates, and a commission of reprisals against the French. Kidd sailed from Plymouth in May 1696 for New York, where he filled up his crew, and in 1697 reached Madagascar, the pirates' principal rendezvous. He made no effort whatever to hunt them down. On the contrary, the fact would seem to be that Kidd meant only to capture French ships. When he found none he captured native trading vessels, under pretence that they were provided with French passes and were fair prize, and he plundered on the coast of Malabar. During 1698-1699 complaints reached the British government as to the character of his proceedings. Kidd was arrested in July 1699, and was transported to London early in 1700 by Admiral Benbow, in a man-of-war sent out for the purpose. Kidd was hanged at Execution Dock, London, on the 21st of May 1701. "Captain Kidd's Treasure" has been sought by various expeditions and about £14,000 was recovered from Kidd's ship and from Gardiner's Island (off the E. end of Long Island) ; but its magnitude was palpably exaggerated.

The closing scene of his naval career was the most important, though the most unfortunate. In 1701, in order to disappoint the French in their view upon the Spanish Succesion, it was thought necessary, among other arrangements, to lend a strong squadron to the West Indies.The command of the West India squadron was conferred on the Vice-Admiral, and he departed in October 1701. His squadron consisted of two third-rates, and eight fourths, which was all the force that could then be spared. The strict discipline which he found necessary for the good of the service, and of which he was an eminent example, created a jealousy and disgust in the minds of several of the Captains under his command. Admiral Benbow was a brave old sailor, popular with his men but hated by his officers, whom he kept to their work.

The English engaged in a fight which did not add lustre to their honor. Benbow was acting against a French squadron in the West Indies, and making a most gallant fight, which he would have won if he had not been deserted by some of his captains. On the 19th of August, 1702, Vice-Admiral Benbow, cruising off Santa Martha, with a mixed squadron of frigates and ships of the line, commanded by these basely infatuated men, gave chase to a French squadron, under M. du Casse, and soon after brought them to action, during which the Vico-Admiral was evidently deserted by his most powerful ships. On the 20th he determined to lead into action himself, and found none but the Ruby to support him. Notwithstanding which, the brave Benbow persevered in his attacks.

The engagement continued with Benbow harrying the enemy while the other English ships showed much activity but little substance. The Admiral boarded Du Casse in person three times, and received a large wound in his face, and another in his arm, before his leg was shot off by a chain-shot which mortally wounded him. He was borne below, but he soon ordered himself to be again carried on deck, where he still gave his orders with an unaltered countenance. "I would rather have lost both my legs than have seen this disgrace brought on the British flag" said the brave old man.

Benbow died of his wounds on November 4, 1702. He was all along extremely sensible of his danger, and never entertained any flattering hopes of recovery. Yet, while he calmly and religiously prepared for death, he, during his illness, never ceased to perform his duty as an English admiral, with the same firmness he had shown during the engagement. He was a man so remarkable for temperance, that none of his most intimate acquaintance ever saw him disguised in liquor.

Benbow survived long enough to bring the traitors to court-martial. Two of them were shot for cowardice and one dismissed from the service. But it was believed that the reason for their conduct was as much hatred of their admiral as fear of the enemy's cannon balls. Their behavior in the engagement arose not from any natural cowardice, but from a corrupt and malignant hostility towards their gallant commander. The primary reason for the attitude of the subordinate captains would appear to have been prejudice. In a time when captains bought their commissions, Benbow came from common stock. He had gained his Admiral's pennant by merit and merit alone. He had the trust of his King and his fellow admirals. He had the misfortune to find himself with inferior subordinates.

He was of an undaunted resolution, aud intrepidly daring. The name of Benbow is still of great and undiminished popularity in the British Navy.