Merchant Adventurers

Alex McVicar and John McKerlie of the Indefatigable

ByHeather Noel-Smith

and Lorna M. Campbell

Press Gangs, Conscripts and Professionals Conference, National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth, 6th – 7th Sept 2013

Introduction

HMS Indefatigable Joining the Western Squadron by J.T. Serres, 1800, www.christies.com.

Captain Sir Edward Pellew

Edward Pellew, 1st Viscount Exmouth, by James Northcote, © National Portrait Gallery.

The Droits de L’Homme Engagement

Destruction of the Droits de L’Homme by Ebenezer Colls, © National Maritime Museum.

The Droits de L’Homme Engagement

Vaisseau Droits de l’Homme by Leopold le Guen, public domain image.

The Droits de L’Homme Engagement

Muster table of His Majesty’s Ship the Indefatigable between 1st January and 28th February 1797, © The National Archives.

Alex McVicar, born Leith, 1768

Leith Pier and Harbour by J Waddell, © Peter Stubbs, www.edinphoto.org.uk, used with permission.

Fleetwood Pellew on Alex McVicar

Annotations to Osler’s Life of Admiral Lord Exmouth, private collection.

“Capt Bell and Capt Thomas Groube were both taken from a West Indiaman. Capts Gaze and McVicar the same (merchant vessels).”

John McKerlie, born Glenluce, Wigtonshire, 1775

Wigtonshire, W. H. Lizars, Edinburgh

The Arethusa Frigate Scudding Under Foresail in a Storm, © National Maritime Museum.

HMS Arethusa

The Western Squadron

The Western Squadron leaving Falmouth by Derek G M Gardner, © Bonhams.

Captain Sir John Borlase Warren

Sir John Borlase Warren,by M. Oates,

© National Maritime Museum.

The Command of the Ocean by N.A.M. Rodger

“…the disappointed midshipmen, embittered and often hard drinking men in their thirties or even forties who had hoped and failed to get a commission.”

Midmn to 7th June 1796 then Mr’s Mate to 4th Septr then Midsmn to 27th Sept 96 then Mastr’s Mate to 30th Oct 1796 then Mid to 11th Decr 96 then Mr’s Mate

Muster table of His Majesty’s Ship the Indefatigable between the 1st of January and the 28th of February 1797 © The National Archives.

Qr Gr to the 1st Jany 97 then school mastr

Muster table of His Majesty’s Ship the Indefatigable between the 1st of January and the 28th of February 1797 © The National Archives.

Muster table of His Majesty’s Ship the Indefatigable between the 1st of January and the 28th of February 1797 © The National Archives.

A British Vessel Taking a Prize, by E.B. Eagles, 1805 © The National Maritime Museum.

Nicholas Pateshall

Nicholas Lechmere Pateshall, circle of Domenico Pellegrini, © Sotheby’s.

Nicholas Pateshall to

Edmund Pateshall

Nicholas Pateshall to Edmund Pateshall, 20th January 1797, © Herefordshire Archives.

Nicholas Pateshall to Edmund Pateshall

“The most valuable of our prizes which I mentioned in my last was retaken by a French privateer within 5 miles of Falmouth in which I lost a worthy messmate and two other midshipmen.”Nicholas Pateshall to Edmund Pateshall, 20th January 1797, ©

Herefordshire Archives.

Muster of His Majesty’s Ship the Phoebe, June 1797, © The National Archives.

French Cartellbelonging to Indefatigable

Jas BrayAlexr McVicarWm Brenton

DD 13 Jun D

George John, 2nd Earl Spencer.

First Lord of the Admiralty, 1794 - 1801

George John, 2nd Earl Spencer,

by John Singleton Copely,© National Portrait Gallery.

The Public Schools Historical Atlas by C. Colbek, 1905.

Earl Spencer to Sir Edward Pellew

Dear Sir The Vacancy for lieutenant in the Thames having been officially reported the board have filled it accordingly and had this not been the case Mr McKerlie not having passed the usual examination it would not have been in my power to comply with your wishes in that gentleman’s behalf but I shall have great pleasure in doing so as soon after he is qualified and I can find a proper opening for him.

I am dear Sir Edward, your very obedient humble servant.

Spencer.

Admiralty 7 August 1800Earl Spencer to Captain Sir Edward Pellew, 7th August 1800, © National Maritime Museum

“McKerlie you have lost one hand already, and if you loose the other you will not have anything to wipe your b******* with; you will remain on board with the first lieutenant and fight the ship as she is to engage an 8-gun battery.”

Royal Naval Biography, Supplement, Part III by John Marshall

Alex McVicar to Evan Nepean, Leith, 4th June 1802 © The National Archives

Alex McVicar to

Evan Nepean

Caledonian Mercury, December 2, 1802

M Vicar Alexr McVicar Lieut of the Navy & Margt Reid Daugr to Alexr Reid Mercht Leith Gave up their Names for Marriage

Old Parish Records Marriages, Cannongate, 11th April 1803, © Scotland’s People.

The Lancaster Gazette, 21st October 1809.

Leith – Edinburgh Dock, Cassells Old and New Edinburgh Illustrated by James Grant © Peter Stubbs, www.edinphoto.org.uk, used with permission.

The Battle of Trafalgar by C. F. Stanfield, public domain image.

Thomas Telford

Thomas TelfordBy William Raddon after Samuel Lane© National Portrait Gallery.

The Charts and Plans Referred to in the Report from the Committee Appointed to Examine into Mr Telford’s Report and Survey, 15th June 1809.

Walcheren Expedition, unattributed image, http://2ndbattalion84thfoot-yorkandlancasterregiment.co.uk/

The Bombardment of Algiers, George Chambers, 1836, © Royal Museums Greenwich.

HMS Vernon in a trail of sailing with the Experimental Squadron, unknown artist, © Royal Museums Greenwich.

“Simply to reach warrant rank was, socially and financially, to “break even” by the change, for low pay in the Navy was counterbalanced by prize money, half-pay and widow’s pensions. To reach commissioned rank was to open new worlds of honour and profit.”

The Wooden World: An anatomy of the Georgian Navy, by N.A.M. Rodger.

“There were certainly many who achieved modest good fortune in the Navy, reaching warrant or commissioned rank without ever marking a mark in history.”

The Wooden World: An anatomy of the Georgian Navy, by N.A.M. Rodger.

HMS Indefatigable Joining the Western Squadron by J.T. Serres, 1800, www.christies.com.

Further Information

• Indefatigable1797.wordpress.com– http://indefatigable1797.wordpress.com

• Heather Noel-Smith–Heather.noel-smith@sky.com

• Lorna M. Campbell– Lorna.m.campbell@icloud.com