ton, by Henrietta, daughter of Joseph Cowley, Esq., of Wolverhampton, in Staffordshire (by Penelope, daughter and heiress of Edward Pelham, Esq.).
He was born Aug. 22, 1770; received his education at the maritime school at Chelsea; and obtained the rank of Lieutenant in 1790[1]. At the commencement of the French revolutionary war, we find him commanding the Trepassey of 12 guns, on the Newfoundland station; and subsequently serving as a Lieutenant of the Barfleur, a second rate, bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Waldegrave (now Lord Radstock), in which ship he assisted at the defeat of the Spanish fleet, under Don Josef de Cordova, off Cape St. Vincent, Feb. 14, 1797[2].
Towards the close of 1798, or early in 1799, Lieutenant Brenton was promoted to the command of the Speedy, a brig mounting fourteen 4-pounders, with a complement of 60 men. On the 9th Aug. in the latter year, he chased three of the enemy’s armed vessels into a small bay, near Cape de Gatt, where they moored in a close line, within a boat’s length of the beach. The Speedy engaged them an hour and three quarters under sail, before she could gain soundings, although not more than a cable’s length distant from the rocks; but finding the enemy had much the advantage, from her constant change of position, Captain Brenton determined to push for an anchorage, and was fortunate enough to gain one within pistol shot of the centre vessel. A warm action now took place, and lasted about three quarters of an hour; at the end of which time the enemy took to their boats, leaving the vessels to their fate. The prizes were taken possession of under a heavy fire of musketry from the surrounding hills, and 2 Spaniards found dead on their decks: the wounded were carried off by their companions. They mounted in the whole 22 guns, 6 and 9-pounders. The Defender, a privateer belonging to Gibraltar, was in company with the Speedy at the commencement of this very creditable affair; but having
- ↑ Previous to this promotion, Mr. Brenton had served as a Lieutenant in the Swedish navy, and bore a part in the desperate battle between the Russians and Swedes, in the gulf of Wibourg. See Vol. I. note §, at p. 292.
- ↑ See Vol. I. pp. 21 and 61.
