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====Battle of West Key====
====Battle of West Key====
In March 1801, ''Arab'', in company with the 18-gun British privateer ''Experiment'', caught and challenged two Danish vessels, the [[brig]] {{HDMS|Lougen|1791|2}}, under the command of Captain [[Carl Wilhelm Jessen]], and the [[schooner]] ''Den Aarvaagne''.<ref name="JEB1">{{cite web |url=http://www.navalhistory.dk/english/History/1801_1814/Lougen_WestKay_1801.htm |title=Battle of West Kay 1801 |author=Johnny Erik Balsved |date=17 February 2003 |work= |publisher=Copyright © 2009&ndash;2011 Johnny E. Balsved |accessdate=30 April 2010}}</ref> ''Arab'' approached the two Danish vessels and, according to Danish accounts, without warning, fired several broadsides at ''Lougen'' before the Danish ship was able to return fire. ''Lougen'', which had escaped serious damage, began to return fire steadily. ''Experiment'' initially attempted to capture ''Aarvaagne'', but ''Aarvaagne'' obeyed orders to stay out of the fight and instead escaped south to [[Christiansted, United States Virgin Islands|Christiansted]] on [[Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands|St Croix]] with its intelligence on British actions. ''Experiment'' then joined ''Arab'' in the attack on ''Lougen'', with the two British ships sandwiching the Danish ship. During the engagement, which lasted for over an hour, one of ''Lougen{{'}}''s shots struck the ''Arab{{'}}''s [[cathead]] and loosed the bower anchor. (Perkin's reported that it was the first shot from ''Lougen'' that loosed the bower anchor.) ''Arab{{'}}''s crew was unable to cut the anchor free, leaving ''Arab'' unable to manoeuvre effectively. This allowed Jessen to steer a course that brought him under the protection of the shore batteries and then into [[Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands|St Thomas]]. Captain Jessen of the ''Lougen'' was awarded a presentation sword made of gold, a medal and 400 [[rixdollar]]s (the equivalent of a whole year's salary for a Captain in the Danish Navy) by the Danish government for his actions.<ref name="JEB1"/>
In March 1801, ''Arab'', in company with the 18-gun British privateer ''Experiment'', caught and challenged two Danish vessels, the [[brig]] {{HDMS|Lougen|1791|2}}, under the command of Captain [[Carl Wilhelm Jessen]], and the [[schooner]] ''Den Aarvaagne''.<ref name="JEB1">{{cite web |url=http://www.navalhistory.dk/english/History/1801_1814/Lougen_WestKay_1801.htm |title=Battle of West Kay 1801 |author=Johnny Erik Balsved |date=17 February 2003 |work= |publisher=Copyright © 2009&ndash;2011 Johnny E. Balsved |accessdate=30 April 2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817175819/http://www.navalhistory.dk/english/history/1801_1814/Lougen_WestKay_1801.htm |archivedate=17 August 2010 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> ''Arab'' approached the two Danish vessels and, according to Danish accounts, without warning, fired several broadsides at ''Lougen'' before the Danish ship was able to return fire. ''Lougen'', which had escaped serious damage, began to return fire steadily. ''Experiment'' initially attempted to capture ''Aarvaagne'', but ''Aarvaagne'' obeyed orders to stay out of the fight and instead escaped south to [[Christiansted, United States Virgin Islands|Christiansted]] on [[Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands|St Croix]] with its intelligence on British actions. ''Experiment'' then joined ''Arab'' in the attack on ''Lougen'', with the two British ships sandwiching the Danish ship. During the engagement, which lasted for over an hour, one of ''Lougen{{'}}''s shots struck the ''Arab{{'}}''s [[cathead]] and loosed the bower anchor. (Perkin's reported that it was the first shot from ''Lougen'' that loosed the bower anchor.) ''Arab{{'}}''s crew was unable to cut the anchor free, leaving ''Arab'' unable to manoeuvre effectively. This allowed Jessen to steer a course that brought him under the protection of the shore batteries and then into [[Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands|St Thomas]]. Captain Jessen of the ''Lougen'' was awarded a presentation sword made of gold, a medal and 400 [[rixdollar]]s (the equivalent of a whole year's salary for a Captain in the Danish Navy) by the Danish government for his actions.<ref name="JEB1"/>


On 13 April 1801 ''Arab'' captured the Spanish privateer ''Duenda''.<ref name=" LG16027">{{London Gazette|issue=16027|date= 9 May 1807|page=621}}</ref>
On 13 April 1801 ''Arab'' captured the Spanish privateer ''Duenda''.<ref name=" LG16027">{{London Gazette|issue=16027|date= 9 May 1807|page=621}}</ref>
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==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.navalhistory.dk/english/History/1801_1814/Lougen_WestKay_1801.htm Battle of the West Kay 1801, An account of the battle between HMS Arab and the Danish Brig Lougen];
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100817175819/http://www.navalhistory.dk/english/history/1801_1814/Lougen_WestKay_1801.htm Battle of the West Kay 1801, An account of the battle between HMS Arab and the Danish Brig Lougen];
*[http://www.nathanielturner.com/dessalines.htm The Rise of Emperor Dessalines including letters from Perkins to Admiral Duckworth 1804];
*[http://www.nathanielturner.com/dessalines.htm The Rise of Emperor Dessalines including letters from Perkins to Admiral Duckworth 1804];
*[http://www.ageofnelson.org/MichaelPhillips/info.php?ref=2190 Ships of the Old Navy HMS Tartar];
*[http://www.ageofnelson.org/MichaelPhillips/info.php?ref=2190 Ships of the Old Navy HMS Tartar];

Revision as of 16:02, 28 November 2017

John Perkins
Napoleonic War

American War of Independence
and in a two-year period captured at least 315 enemy ships.

Later in his career Perkins acted for the navy as a spy and undertook missions to Cuba and Saint-Domingue (modern day Haiti). At the start of the slave revolt in Saint-Domingue he was captured in Cap-Français and sentenced to death for supplying the rebel slave army with weapons.

After his rescue he was promoted commander in 1797 and then

ship-of-the-line with a 32-gun frigate
.

Early life and career

John Perkins was probably born in Kingston, Jamaica in the middle of the 18th century. Very little is known of his birth or early life but several contemporary accounts describe him as mulatto (mixed race), with a white father and a black (probably slave) mother.[1][2][3]

In 1775 Perkins first appears in the records of the Royal Navy when he was appointed to the 50-gun HMS Antelope, the flagship of the commander-in-chief of the Jamaica station as an extra pilot. "His knowledge of the different ports, &C. in the West Indies was, perhaps, seldom equalled, and never surpassed."[4]

In 1778 he was placed in command of the schooner Punch, a ship probably armed with ten 2 or 4-pounder guns, though no detailed records survive. At this time he received his nickname Jack Punch, most probably earned because of the name of his command. During the next two years Perkins claimed to have captured 315 ships, an average of three per week, a claim that was later endorsed by the Jamaican House of Assembly.[5]

Admiral

Archibald Campbell stated in a letter of recommendation that "By the gallant exertions of this officer some hundred vessels were taken, burnt, or destroyed, and above three thousand men added to the list of prisoners of war in favour of Britain; in short, the character and conduct of Captain Perkins were not less admired by his superior officers in Jamaica, than respected by those of the enemy."[5]

In 1782 Perkins captured a much larger vessel containing several important French officers.

First Secretary to the Admiralty, in an attempt to confirm the promotion. "I must therefore desire you will please represent to their Lordships, that on my arrival at Jamaica, I found Mr. Perkins lieutenant and commander of the Endeavour schooner – that he bore an excellent character, and had done great service."[10] Despite his request Perkins was demoted back to the rank of lieutenant and the guns ordered to be removed. At the end of the American War of Independence he was "on the beach" (meaning that he was without a posting on a ship) as a half-pay
lieutenant.

For several years between 1783 and 1790 Perkins disappeared from the books of the Royal Navy. It may be during this time that he turned to piracy as there is a French source and several English records that describe him as such.[13][14]

In 1790, fifteen years after he had first joined the navy, Perkins made an application to the Jamaican House of Assembly for their assistance in achieving his promotion. After presenting his certificates to the assembly, the assembly investigated Perkins’ claim and resolved to make an application to the Admiralty for his promotion to post-captain.[5]

Capture on Saint-Domingue

In 1790 Perkins volunteered once more and served under Admiral

Thomas McNamara Russell of the 32-gun frigate HMS Diana, on a relief mission to the authorities on Saint-Domingue, was informed that a British officer was under arrest and due to be executed in Jérémie for supplying arms to the rebel slaves. Officially Britain and France were not at war and Russell requested that Perkins be released. The French authorities promised that he would be and then later refused. After numerous letters had been exchanged Russell determined that the French had no intention to release Perkins. Russell sailed around Cap-Français to Jérémie and met with the 12-gun HMS Ferret under Captain Nowell. It was agreed that Nowell's first lieutenant, an officer named Godby, would go ashore and recover Perkins whilst the two ships remained offshore within cannon shot, ready to land an invasion force if need be.[4] Lieutenant Godby landed and after negotiations Perkins was released.[15]
Perkins then disappears once more from the records for a short time.

Return to service

In September 1793 Perkins returned to the books of the Navy. Perkins is listed as commanding

Brigadier-General John Whyte that briefly captured Port-au-Prince. At the time some forty five vessels lay in harbour and these were all made prizes.[20] In 1796 Marie Antoinette made up part of a small squadron that captured the schooner Charlotte and brig Sally.[21]
Perkins remained with her until he was promoted master and commander.

Promotion to commander

The circumstances of his promotion are unrecorded, but in 1797 Admiral

pence.[27]

The front page of the HMS Arab logbook 1800 from the National Archives, Kew

In inflation-adjusted terms this would be approximately £7,000 as of 2024.[28]

In Drake, in company with

corvettes, the 18-gun Egyptienne, the 16-gun Eole, the 12-gun Levrier and the 8-gun Vengeur on 24 November 1799 off Cape Tiburon.[29][30]

Promotion to post-captain

Perkins was promoted on 6 September 1800 to post-captain[31] in the 32-gun frigate HMS Meleager.[32] In early 1801 Perkins moved to the 22-gun HMS Arab.[33]

Battle of West Key 1801 courtesy of the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London.

Battle of West Key

In March 1801, Arab, in company with the 18-gun British privateer Experiment, caught and challenged two Danish vessels, the

St Croix with its intelligence on British actions. Experiment then joined Arab in the attack on Lougen, with the two British ships sandwiching the Danish ship. During the engagement, which lasted for over an hour, one of Lougen's shots struck the Arab's cathead and loosed the bower anchor. (Perkin's reported that it was the first shot from Lougen that loosed the bower anchor.) Arab's crew was unable to cut the anchor free, leaving Arab unable to manoeuvre effectively. This allowed Jessen to steer a course that brought him under the protection of the shore batteries and then into St Thomas. Captain Jessen of the Lougen was awarded a presentation sword made of gold, a medal and 400 rixdollars (the equivalent of a whole year's salary for a Captain in the Danish Navy) by the Danish government for his actions.[34]

On 13 April 1801 Arab captured the Spanish privateer Duenda.[35]

Capture of Saint Eustatia and Saba Islands

On 16 April 1801 Perkins, in company with

Dutch West Indies
.

After several further cruises Perkins was transferred in 1802 into the 32-gun frigate HMS Tartar.[37]

Later career

Between 20 November and 4 December 1803 Tartar was in company with Commodore

pence.[42]

Final mission to Haiti

In January 1804

Duckworth and Governor Nugent in Tartar as a British observer to the island. Perkins was accompanied by Edward Corbet. Corbet was a government advisor appointed by Nugent.[43] Perkins described the situation on Haiti in his official letters to the Admiral. "I assure you that it is horrid to view the streets in different places stained with the Blood of these unfortunate people, whose bodies are now left exposed to view by the river and sea side. In hauling the seine the evening we came to our anchor several bodies got entangled in it, in fact such scenes of cruelty and devastation have been committed as is impossible to imagine or my pen describe."[44]

Retirement and death

In March 1804 Perkins resigned his commission on health grounds. It is rumoured that Perkins finally visited England in 1805 although there is no supporting evidence for this. There is no further record of his involvement with the Navy or Haiti. Perkins died on 27 January 1812 at his home in Jamaica.[4] According to his obituary he suffered for many years with a condition described as "asthma" and that this was the cause of his demise.

There is no record of a wife and the records concerning his estate have disappeared. One article makes mention that during his life Perkins managed to father over one hundred illegitimate children,[45] although no records of them exist.

His obituary in the Naval Chronicle described his actions while in command of the schooner Punch:

he annoyed the enemy more than any other officer, by his repeated feats of gallantry, and the immense number of prizes he took.[4]

Citations

  1. ^ a b The Royal Navy. A History from the Earliest Times to 1900, William Clowes, p. 471
  2. ^ Nautical Magazine 1842, pp. 387–391 and pp. 461–465
  3. ^ Donnithorne.
  4. ^ a b c d Naval Chronicle, 27 (1812), pp.351–352
  5. ^ a b c d Journals of the Jamaican house of assembly, 8
  6. ^ ADM 51/4181 Captains' logs Endeavour 31 May 1776 – 21 Feb 1781
  7. ^ Ships of the Royal Navy, Colledge, p.114.
  8. ^ Letter-Books and Order-Books of George, Lord Rodney, Admiral of the White Squadron, Volume 1. Page 230
  9. ^ Letter-Books and Order-Books of George, Lord Rodney, Admiral of the White Squadron, Volume 1. Page 490
  10. ^ a b c The Life and Correspondence of the Late Admiral Rodney. Godfrey Basil Mundy, p. 344,345
  11. ^ Letter-Books and Order-Books of George, Lord Rodney, Admiral of the White Squadron, Volume 1. Page 511
  12. ^ Letter-Books and Order-Books of George, Lord Rodney, Admiral of the White Squadron, Volume 2. 685
  13. ^ Lady Nugent's Journal of Her Residence in Jamaica from 1801 to 1805, Shepherd, p. 311,312
  14. ^ Christophe: King of Haiti, Cole, p. 303
  15. ^ Naval Chronicle, 17 (1807), pp. 458–462
  16. ^ ADM 8/69 Admiralty Records held at the National Archives, Kew
  17. ^ The Royal Navy. A History from the Earliest Times to 1900, William Clowes, Volume 4, p. 214
  18. ^ Ships of the Royal Navy, Colledge, p.216
  19. ^ "No. 13600". The London Gazette. 10 December 1793. p. 1096.
  20. ^ "No. 13684". The London Gazette. 17 July 1794. pp. 723–725.
  21. ^ "No. 15717". The London Gazette. 7 July 1804. p. 841.
  22. ^ British Warships in the Age of Sail 1714–1792, Winfield, p. 313
  23. ^ Ships of the Royal Navy, Colledge, p.102
  24. ^ National Archives, Kew: ADM 36/14999 Admiralty: Royal Navy Ships' Musters (Series I) 1795 May – 1798 Aug HMS Drake
  25. ^ The Royal Navy. A History from the Earliest Times to 1900, William Clowes, p. 334, 335
  26. ^ Naval History of Great Britain Vol. 2, James, p. 113
  27. ^ "No. 18729". The London Gazette. 24 September 1830. p. 2022.
  28. ^ UK Retail Price Index inflation figures are based on data from Clark, Gregory (2017). "The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  29. ^ "No. 15872". The London Gazette. 14 December 1805. p. 1570.
  30. ^ British Warships in the Age of Sail 1714–1792, Winfield, p. 214
  31. ^ Isaac Schomberg (1802). Naval chronology; or, An historical summary of naval & maritime events, from the time of the Romans, to the Treaty of Peace, 1802. C, Rowarth, Bell Lane, Fleet Street. p. 378.
  32. ^ Ships of the Royal Navy, Colledge, p.222
  33. ^ Ships of the Royal Navy, Colledge, p.18
  34. ^ a b Johnny Erik Balsved (17 February 2003). "Battle of West Kay 1801". Copyright © 2009–2011 Johnny E. Balsved. Archived from the original on 17 August 2010. Retrieved 30 April 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  35. ^ "No. 16027". The London Gazette. 9 May 1807. p. 621.
  36. ^ Naval History of Great Britain Vol. 3, James, p. 150
  37. ^ Ships of the Royal Navy, Colledge, p.345
  38. ^ "No. 15935". The London Gazette. 8 July 1806. p. 861.
  39. ^ "No. 15672". The London Gazette. 4 February 1804. pp. 165–167.
  40. ^ Naval History of Great Britain Vol. 3, James, p. 186
  41. ^ National Archives, Kew: ADM 51/1447 Captains' logs Tartar 16 Apr 1802 – 30 Apr 1804
  42. ^ "No. 15889". The London Gazette. 11 February 1806. p. 196.
  43. ^ Lady Nugent's Journal of Her Residence in Jamaica from 1801 to 1805, Shepherd
  44. ^ Christophe: King of Haiti, Cole, pp. 140–143
  45. ^ Nautical Magazine (1842), pp. 387–391 and pp. 461 – 465.

Bibliography

External links

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