Napoleonic Wars Murray Maxwell

1 napoleonic wars

1.1 mediterranean service
1.2 adriatic campaign
1.3 hms daedalus

napoleonic wars

at conclusion of peace of amiens , start of napoleonic wars, maxwell returned sea-service in command of sloop-of-war hms cyane. within days of start of war, cyane captured 2 french transports destined caribbean, , later served in west indies, on 1 occasion exchanging fire 2 large french frigates off martinique. in 1803, maxwell involved in capture of st lucia, made captain of ship of line hms centaur—the flagship of former commander sir samuel hood. in ship maxwell participated in capture of french , dutch colonies of tobago, demerera , essequibo in 1803, following promotion post captain confirmed. blockaded martinique, , subsequently involved in operation seize diamond rock, overseeing construction of gun battery on summit. fortified position able severely restrict french shipping entering or leaving fort-de-france. present @ capture of surinam , berbice in 1804, maxwell senior naval officer @ surrender of surinam dutch governor. actions @ surinam: commanding naval forces in siege , capturing succession of dutch forts along suriname river, highly commended. maxwell s decisive leadership essential in rapid movement of troops water prevent dutch preparing fresh defensive positions; colony surrendered after british reached paramaribo, giving 2,000 prisoners, several ships, large quantities of supplies , colony itself, valuable plantations. british losses numbered less 30.

mediterranean service

in 1805 maxwell took command of frigate hms galatea off jamaica, participating in atlantic campaign of 1806 part of squadron under rear-admiral sir alexander cochrane drove off french attack on jamaica convoy near tortola on 4 july 1806. in 1807, maxwell transferred mediterranean in hms alceste. part of raiding squadron attacked coastal batteries , positions along spanish coast in support of peninsular war. in april 1808, shortly before spain became ally of britain, destroyed spanish convoy carrying military stores off rota. on next 2 years maxwell became expert @ raiding french, italian , spanish coasts, destroying numerous italian martello towers , small armed vessels. in may 1810 commended raid @ frejus, led landing party stormed , destroyed coastal fort , seized coastal convoy.

adriatic campaign

la pomone contre les frégates hms alceste et active, pierre julien gilbert

maxwell s notable service came during adriatic campaign of 1807–1814. alceste despatched adriatic sea support james brisbane in absence of william hoste, had been wounded @ battle of lissa in march 1811. on 4 may, maxwell , brisbane led attack on parenza, brig carrying supplies ragusa had taken shelter. seizing island @ mouth of harbour, british established mortar position overlooking anchorage, , sank brig heavy bombardment. in november 1811, temporary absence of brisbane, maxwell became senior officer in adriatic. 7 months later, convoy of french frigates carrying cannon corfu trieste spotted attempting slip past base of operations on island of lissa. ashore in port st. george, maxwell informed telegraph, , led alceste , rest of squadron—hms active , hms unite—in pursuit.

on 29 november, after night s chase, british caught opponents near pelagosa. french force consisted of large frigates pauline , pomone, , armed storeship persanne. in battle followed, unite pursued and, after lengthy chase, seized smaller persanne, while maxwell , james alexander gordon in active engaged frigates. action bitterly contested, british taking 61 casualties, including gordon lost leg. however, alceste , active isolated pomone, , when british ship, hms kingfisher, appeared in distance, pauline fled. alone , having lost heavily, pomone surrendered. prizes later sold along cargo of 200 cannon. maxwell, despite attributing of credit victory wounded gordon, rewarded in 1812 command of hms daedalus, former italian frigate captured @ battle of lissa.

hms daedalus

maxwell commanded daedalus less year. on 2 july 1813 frigate ran aground on shoal off galle, ceylon, causing serious damage keel. although brought off, leaks created in grounding became severe maxwell had no option order crew cease desperate attempts keep afloat , abandon ship. last leave , shortly after had been transported nearby east indiaman, daedalus rolled on , sank. maxwell returned britain face court martial exonerated frigate s loss , reappointed alceste. in 1815 made companion of order of bath naval service, , although war against france had ended, retained active duty @ special request of lord amherst.