2330024Royal Naval Biography — Foote, JohnJohn Marshall


JOHN FOOTE, Esq.
[Captain of 1827.]

Obtained the rank of lieutenant in May, 1801; and had the misfortune to be wounded and taken prisoner while commanding a gun-boat, manned by the Queen 98, and sent from Gibraltar to afford protection to a convoy passing through the Gut, in Oct. 1806. The following is a copy of his official letter to Rear-Admiral Purvis, by whom he had been sent on that service:

Town of Tariffa, Oct. 26th, 1806.

“Sir,– With heart-felt anguish I acquaint you of the capture of H.M. gun-boat Hannah, yesterday forenoon, by a Spanish privateer, of 4 guns and 70 men.

“Being off Cabritta Point, I discovered a latine-rigged vessel in the middle of the Gut, a few miles to leeward of me, towing a merchantman towards the Spanish coast; and conceiving it my duty to endeavour to regain her, I made all sail after them. Upon coming within gun-shot, I perceived the enemy was a large three-masted vessel, of much superior force to the gun-boat; I therefore, after exchanging a few shot, and finding she knew her superiority, by casting off the tow, and tacking after mc, endeavoured to escape; – she soon, however, got so close as to do execution with her grape; and our ammunition being nearly expended, I determined to try the event by boarding her ; but on coming alongside, such a number of men jumped into us, as obliged us to act on the defensive. After fighting on the deck about ten minutes, I looked around, and saw scarce an Englishman standing, and another privateer coming up close to us; I therefore determined to save the lives of the few brave fellows that were left, by striking the British flag. I send this by Mr. Spargo, midshipman, to whom I am indebted for writing it, (being wounded in my left arm, and the doctor having bled me in the other) as well as for his gallantry in the engagement; and I cannot finish without saying how much I owe to the bravery of young Mr. Millett, midshipman, and the whole of the gun-boat’s crew. I herewith enclose a list of killed, &c.

(Signed)John Foote.”

“This contest,” says Lord Collingwood, “was highly honorable to Lieutenant Foote and his men;” of whom six were slain, two drowned, and eleven wounded.

We next find this officer serving as flag-lieutenant to Sir Richard Bickerton, at Portsmouth; where he continued until promoted to the command of the Rapid sloop, Sept. 29th, 1813. His subsequent appointments were, – Oct. 9th, 1814, to the Goldfinch of 10 guns, which vessel, after having been employed on “special service,” was paid off at Sheerness, in Dec. 1815: – and, May 12th, 1827, to the Britannia 120, bearing the flag of Earl Northesk, and commanded by Captain Edward Hawker, at Plymouth. He was advanced to his present rank on the 29th of Sept. 1827.