John Bastard (Royal Navy officer)
Encyclopedia
John Bastard was an officer of the Royal Navy
who saw service during the French Revolutionary
and Napoleonic Wars
, and the War of 1812
, rising to the rank of post-captain
. He also entered politics and became a Member of Parliament
.
Bastard was born into a family with considerable political connections, and had a distinguished naval officer
as his grandfather. He entered the navy and rose through the ranks during the wars with France. He was promoted to commander and given his first ship while in the East Indies, and was able to show his qualities by chasing a larger French privateer
until she was captured by a larger British ship. Promoted to post-captain soon afterwards, one of his first post commands was the former privateer he had helped to capture. He was moved to the North American station shortly before the outbreak of the War of 1812 and commanded the station's flagship
while serving in a detached squadron. Events that Bastard took part in included the capture of and the chase of . His ship was sent home in 1814 and he commanded only one other ship before the drawdown of the navy after the end of the wars. He then entered politics, sitting for Dartmouth
until 1832.
, and his wife Jane Pownoll. His father's side of the family included a large number of politicians, and a number of Bastards sat in Parliament
during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Among them was his father, who represented Dartmouth
, his uncle John Pollexfen Bastard
, who represented Devonshire
, and his brother Edmund Pollexfen Bastard
, who represented Dartmouth and Devon. John would follow his family into politics, sitting for Dartmouth after his brother vacated his seat to sit for Devon. Through his mother John was the grandson of the distinguished naval officer Philemon Pownoll
, whose estates at Sharpham, near at Ashprington
, in Devon
he eventually inherited.
, in honour of his grandfather's contribution. He was advanced to master and commander on 22 May 1806, and was given command of the 16-gun sloop in the East Indies
. Shortly after Bastard took command Rattlesnake came across the French privateer-frigate Bellone under Captain Jacques François Perroud off Ceylon
, and despite the Frenchman's heavier armament, chased her north-west. By 3.15pm on 9 July they came in sight of the 74-gun , under Captain Robert Plampin
, some seven miles off the coast. Bellone had the advantage of the wind, whereas Plampin struggled to bring his ship close enough to intercept. Perroud attempted to bring his ship between Powerful and the shore before Plampin could cut her off, but Plampin was able to manoeuvre within range by 5pm and a running battle broke out
, until the French finally struck at 6.45pm. Bastard's next command was the brig-sloop in January 1807, though she was sold in Bombay
in April that year.
, had been killed during the chase and capture of the 40-gun French frigate Piémontaise
. He remained with St Fiorenzo until she was paid off in 1808.
Bastard then served in North America, where he was temporarily in command of the 74-gun on the Halifax
station. He took command of the 64-gun in November 1811, the flagship
of Vice-Admiral Herbert Sawyer
. With the outbreak of the War of 1812
Africa was sent to join Captain Philip Broke
's squadron in July 1812, and was present at the capture of the 14-gun on 15 July. The British squadron, consisting of Africa, Broke's 38-gun , the 38-gun under Captain James Richard Dacres, the 36-gun under Captain Richard Byron and the 32-gun under Captain Lord James Townshend, had arrived off New York
in search of , then under Commodore John Rodgers
, but she had already sailed. Instead they found the USS Nautilus
, under William M. Crane
, which failed to outrun the British squadron and surrendered, becoming the first warship either side lost during the war. Shortly afterwards the squadron fell in with and chased her for three days, with the American ship resorting to throwing her water and stores overboard, and having the ship towed and kedged, before she finally managed to escape.
Bastard remained in command of Africa until she was sent back to Britain and broken up in May 1814. He was given command of the 38-gun as a replacement ship and commanded her in British waters, fitting out at several dockyards.
. He was also an alderman
for Dartmouth
. He married Frances Wade on 7 October 1817. John Bastard died at Upper Grosvenor Street, London
on 11 January 1835, at the age of 48.
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
who saw service during the French Revolutionary
French Revolutionary Wars
The French Revolutionary Wars were a series of major conflicts, from 1792 until 1802, fought between the French Revolutionary government and several European states...
and Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
, and the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, rising to the rank of post-captain
Post-Captain
Post-captain is an obsolete alternative form of the rank of captain in the Royal Navy.The term served to distinguish those who were captains by rank from:...
. He also entered politics and became a Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
.
Bastard was born into a family with considerable political connections, and had a distinguished naval officer
Philemon Pownoll
Philemon Pownoll was an officer of the Royal Navy who saw service during the War of the Austrian Succession, the Seven Years' War and the American War of Independence, rising to the rank of post-captain....
as his grandfather. He entered the navy and rose through the ranks during the wars with France. He was promoted to commander and given his first ship while in the East Indies, and was able to show his qualities by chasing a larger French privateer
Privateer
A privateer is a private person or ship authorized by a government by letters of marque to attack foreign shipping during wartime. Privateering was a way of mobilizing armed ships and sailors without having to spend public money or commit naval officers...
until she was captured by a larger British ship. Promoted to post-captain soon afterwards, one of his first post commands was the former privateer he had helped to capture. He was moved to the North American station shortly before the outbreak of the War of 1812 and commanded the station's flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
while serving in a detached squadron. Events that Bastard took part in included the capture of and the chase of . His ship was sent home in 1814 and he commanded only one other ship before the drawdown of the navy after the end of the wars. He then entered politics, sitting for Dartmouth
Dartmouth (UK Parliament constituency)
Dartmouth, also at some times called Clifton, Dartmouth and Hardness, was a parliamentary borough in Devon which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons in 1298 and to the Commons of England, Great Britain, and the United Kingdom from 1351 until 1832, and then one member from...
until 1832.
Family
John Bastard was born c. 1787, the second son of Edmund BastardEdmund Bastard (politician)
Edmund Bastard was a British Tory politician, second son of Colonel William Bastard of Kitley House, Yealmpton, Devon and his wife born Anne WorsleyHe was Member of Parliament for Dartmouth from 1787 to 1812....
, and his wife Jane Pownoll. His father's side of the family included a large number of politicians, and a number of Bastards sat in Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Among them was his father, who represented Dartmouth
Dartmouth (UK Parliament constituency)
Dartmouth, also at some times called Clifton, Dartmouth and Hardness, was a parliamentary borough in Devon which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons in 1298 and to the Commons of England, Great Britain, and the United Kingdom from 1351 until 1832, and then one member from...
, his uncle John Pollexfen Bastard
John Pollexfen Bastard
John Pollexfen Bastard was a British Tory politician, landowner and colonel of the East Devonshire Militia who lived at Kitley House, Yealmpton, Devon.He married Sarah Bruton about 1780 who died in April 1808...
, who represented Devonshire
Devon (UK Parliament constituency)
Devon was a parliamentary constituency covering the county of Devon in England. It was represented by two Knights of the Shire, in the House of Commons of England until 1707, then of the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and finally the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from...
, and his brother Edmund Pollexfen Bastard
Edmund Pollexfen Bastard
Edmund Pollexfen Bastard was a British Tory politician, son of Edmund Bastard and his wife Jane Pownoll. He married Anne Jane Rodney, granddaughter of Admiral Rodney....
, who represented Dartmouth and Devon. John would follow his family into politics, sitting for Dartmouth after his brother vacated his seat to sit for Devon. Through his mother John was the grandson of the distinguished naval officer Philemon Pownoll
Philemon Pownoll
Philemon Pownoll was an officer of the Royal Navy who saw service during the War of the Austrian Succession, the Seven Years' War and the American War of Independence, rising to the rank of post-captain....
, whose estates at Sharpham, near at Ashprington
Ashprington
Ashprington is a village and civil parish in the South Hams district of Devon, England. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 428. The village is not far from the River Dart, and is about three miles south of Totnes....
, in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
he eventually inherited.
Early career
Bastard entered the navy and after a number of years of service, was promoted to lieutenant on 6 April 1804. His promotion came from the First Lord of the Admiralty, Lord St VincentJohn Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent
Admiral of the Fleet John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent GCB, PC was an admiral in the Royal Navy and Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom...
, in honour of his grandfather's contribution. He was advanced to master and commander on 22 May 1806, and was given command of the 16-gun sloop in the East Indies
East Indies
East Indies is a term used by Europeans from the 16th century onwards to identify what is now known as Indian subcontinent or South Asia, Southeastern Asia, and the islands of Oceania, including the Malay Archipelago and the Philippines...
. Shortly after Bastard took command Rattlesnake came across the French privateer-frigate Bellone under Captain Jacques François Perroud off Ceylon
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
, and despite the Frenchman's heavier armament, chased her north-west. By 3.15pm on 9 July they came in sight of the 74-gun , under Captain Robert Plampin
Robert Plampin
Vice-Admiral Robert Plampin was a British Royal Navy officer during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, serving in the American Revolutionary War, the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars, but best known for his time as commander of the British colony of Saint Helena...
, some seven miles off the coast. Bellone had the advantage of the wind, whereas Plampin struggled to bring his ship close enough to intercept. Perroud attempted to bring his ship between Powerful and the shore before Plampin could cut her off, but Plampin was able to manoeuvre within range by 5pm and a running battle broke out
Action of 9 July 1806
The Action of 9 July 1806 was a minor engagement between a French privateer frigate and British forces off Southern Ceylon during the Napoleonic Wars...
, until the French finally struck at 6.45pm. Bastard's next command was the brig-sloop in January 1807, though she was sold in Bombay
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
in April that year.
Post-captain
Bastard was promoted to post-captain on 12 October 1807 and was given command of the ship he had helped to capture. The Bellone had been brought into the Navy as the sixth rate , with Bastard becoming her first British commander. He was later given command of , after her captain, George Nicholas HardingeGeorge Nicholas Hardinge
George Nicholas Hardinge was an officer of the Royal Navy who served during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Possessing an ability to endear himself to senior officers through his intellect and good manners, he served under several important naval commanders, whose patronage allowed...
, had been killed during the chase and capture of the 40-gun French frigate Piémontaise
French frigate Piémontaise (1804)
The Piémontaise was a 40-gun Consolante-class frigate of the French Navy. She served as a commerce raider in the Indian Ocean until her capture in March 1808...
. He remained with St Fiorenzo until she was paid off in 1808.
North America
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
station. He took command of the 64-gun in November 1811, the flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
of Vice-Admiral Herbert Sawyer
Herbert Sawyer
Admiral Sir Herbert Sawyer KCB was an officer of the Royal Navy who saw service during the American Revolution, the French Revolutionary War, the War of 1812 and the Napoleonic Wars. He eventually rose to the rank of Admiral....
. With the outbreak of the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
Africa was sent to join Captain Philip Broke
Philip Broke
Rear Admiral Sir Philip Bowes Vere Broke, 1st Baronet KCB was a distinguished officer in the British Royal Navy.-Early life:Broke was born at Broke Hall, Nacton, near Ipswich, the eldest son of Philip Bowes Broke...
's squadron in July 1812, and was present at the capture of the 14-gun on 15 July. The British squadron, consisting of Africa, Broke's 38-gun , the 38-gun under Captain James Richard Dacres, the 36-gun under Captain Richard Byron and the 32-gun under Captain Lord James Townshend, had arrived off New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in search of , then under Commodore John Rodgers
John Rodgers (naval officer, War of 1812)
John Rodgers was a senior naval officer in the United States Navy who served under six Presidents for nearly four decades during its formative years in the 1790s through the late 1830s, committing the greater bulk of his adult life to his country...
, but she had already sailed. Instead they found the USS Nautilus
USS Nautilus (1799)
Nautilus was a schooner launched in 1799. The United States Navy purchased her in May 1803, renaming her the USS Nautilus; she thus became the first ship to bear that name. She served in the First Barbary War. She was altered to a brigantine. The British captured Nautilus early in the War of 1812...
, under William M. Crane
William M. Crane
Commodore William Montgomery Crane was an officer in the United States Navy during the First Barbary War and the War of 1812. He was the son of Gen. William Crane who was wounded at the Battle of Quebec while serving under Richard Montgomery in honor of whom he was given the middle name of...
, which failed to outrun the British squadron and surrendered, becoming the first warship either side lost during the war. Shortly afterwards the squadron fell in with and chased her for three days, with the American ship resorting to throwing her water and stores overboard, and having the ship towed and kedged, before she finally managed to escape.
Bastard remained in command of Africa until she was sent back to Britain and broken up in May 1814. He was given command of the 38-gun as a replacement ship and commanded her in British waters, fitting out at several dockyards.
Politics and later life
Bastard entered politics in 1816. His family had considerable influence in a number of Cornish constituencies, and when his uncle, John Pollexfen Bastard, died, Edmund Pollexfen Bastard, John's brother, took his place as representative for Devon. This created a vacancy in Edmund's constituency of Dartmouth, and John was elected to fill it on 16 May 1816. He held the seat until its partial disenfranchisement in the 1832 Reform ActReform Act 1832
The Representation of the People Act 1832 was an Act of Parliament that introduced wide-ranging changes to the electoral system of England and Wales...
. He was also an alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
for Dartmouth
Dartmouth, Devon
Dartmouth is a town and civil parish in the English county of Devon. It is a tourist destination set on the banks of the estuary of the River Dart, which is a long narrow tidal ria that runs inland as far as Totnes...
. He married Frances Wade on 7 October 1817. John Bastard died at Upper Grosvenor Street, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on 11 January 1835, at the age of 48.