French settlements on the continent of Asia; on the surrender of which important place, Oct. 17, 1778, being advanced to the rank of Commander, in the Cormorant sloop, he returned home with Sir Edward Vernon’s despatches; and, on the 22d Mar. 1779, ten days after his arrival, obtaining a post commission, was appointed Captain to the late Admiral Darby, in the Channel Fleet. In 1780, he was nominated to the command of the Hussar, of 28 guns; but this ship, in entering the passage of what is termed Hell-Gates, in North America, was thrown on the Pot-rock, by the unskilfulness of her pilot, and totally lost, the officers and people, except one, being all saved. As no blame whatever could be imputed to Captain Pole, in this accident, he was immediately charged with Vice-Admiral Arbuthnot’s despatches to the Admiralty; and, soon after his arrival in England, received an appointment to the Success, of 32 guns, and 220 men, in which frigate, Mar. 16, 1782, being in company with a store-ship then under his convoy, he fell in with, engaged, and took, after a severe action of two hours and twenty minutes, the Santa Catalina, of 34 guns and 316 men, 38 of whom were killed and wounded. In this affair, much bravery and seamanship were displayed; and what rendered the victory still more satisfactory, it was achieved with the loss of only one man slain and four wounded, on the part of the British.
From the disabled state of the prize, she having only her foremast standing, but small hopes were entertained of being able to conduct her to port; notwithstanding which Captain Pole was making every exertion to get her in a fit state to proceed, as well as to repair the damages sustained by the Success in her masts, yards, and sails, when, at day-light on the 18th, six strangers appeared in sight, part of whom approached to reconnoitre; whereupon, seeing that it was impossible to prevent the Santa Catalina falling into the hands of the supposed enemy, he withdrew his officers and men, and set her on fire, by which means she was totally destroyed. The strange vessels afterwards proved to be the Apollo and Cerberus, British frigates, with four transports under their convoy[1]
- ↑ The Santa Catalina was the largest frigate at that time in the Spanish service. The following were her dimensions; length of the keel, 138
