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John Hutt (Royal Navy officer)
Encyclopedia
Captain John Hutt was an officer of the British Royal Navy
who served with distinction during the American Revolutionary War
and died in 1794 from severe wounds received during the battle of the Glorious First of June
, the first major naval battle of the French Revolutionary Wars
. Hutt's ship, HMS Queen
was heavily engaged in the action and in celebration of his career and death, a monument was raised to him and the other dead Royal Navy captains of the battle.
in the frigate
HMS Lively
in 1773. The ship was stationed on the North American Station and Hutt moved between ships rapidly during his service there, joining HMS Hind and HMS Scarborough in short order. During the American Revoltionary War Hutt continued service in the Americas, joining the fleet in the West Indies in the small brig HMS St Lucia in 1780. In February 1781, Admiral Sir George Rodney promoted him to command of his own ship, the 14-gun brig HMS Antigua, but Hutt did not have her long. On 28 May 1781, during a concerted effort to seize St Lucia from the British by French admiral de Grasse's fleet, a boarding party overwhelmed the brig at Dauphin Creek.
Hutt was taken prisoner by the French and remained in their hands until November 1781 when he was returned to England on parole
. Hutt was exchanged for a French officer shortly afterwards and faced a court martial for the loss of his ship at which he was exhonerated. In the summer of 1782, Hutt commanded the sloop HMS Trimmer and after the peace, in 1783, took over the 20-gun HMS Camille. In Camille, Hutt sailed to Jamaica
, returning in 1787. In 1790 during the Spanish armament, Hutt became a post captain in the frigate HMS Lizard
and operated as a fleet scout. He was stationed off Ferrol to observe the Spanish fleet and he brought the news to England that the Spanish had returned to Cadiz
without threatening action.
, the result of patronage by Rear-Admiral Alan Gardner
who had commanded Hutt in the West Indies and now personally requested him for this prestigious command. Hutt joined Gardner in the West Indies and Queen was involved in the first unsuccessful attempt to capture Martinique
in 1793. A few months later, Gardner's squadron was attached to the Channel Fleet and with that force, under Admiral Lord Howe
, Queen participated in the Glorious First of June
.
In fact, although Queen was heavily engaged at the action of 1 June 1794, Hutt was in no position to command her. On 29 May 1794, as the fleets manoeuvered into position for the main engagement, the French fleet attempting to draw the British away from the convoy, Queen exchanged shots with a number of French ships. The engagement was inconclusive but Hutt was grievously wounded by a cannonball which took one of his legs off. During the main engagement four days later, Hutt was below decks in the ships sick bay.
Hutt was landed at Spithead
a few days after the battle, and despite his serious injury, doctors indicated that he was likely to make a full recovery. Unfortunately, a few days later, infection set into the wound and Hutt died on 30 June 1794 as a result. Along with John Harvey
who had died of wounds on the same day as Hutt, and John Montagu
, who had been killed at the height of the action, Hutt's name was inscribed on a large memorial in St Paul's Cathedral
in London
and the Houses of Parliament gave thanks to those captains who had died in the action.
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 served with distinction during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
and died in 1794 from severe wounds received during the battle of the Glorious First of June
Glorious First of June
The Glorious First of June [Note A] of 1794 was the first and largest fleet action of the naval conflict between the Kingdom of Great Britain and the First French Republic during the French Revolutionary Wars...
, the first major naval battle of the French Revolutionary Wars
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...
. Hutt's ship, HMS Queen
HMS Queen (1769)
HMS Queen was a three-deck 90-gun second-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 18 September 1769 at Woolwich Dockyard. She was designed by William Bateley, and was the only ship built to her draught...
was heavily engaged in the action and in celebration of his career and death, a monument was raised to him and the other dead Royal Navy captains of the battle.
American Revolutionary War
John Hutt was born in 1746 but did not begin a naval career until relatively late, becoming a lieutenantLieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in the frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
HMS Lively
HMS Lively (1754)
HMS Lively was a 20-gun post ship of the Royal Navy, launched at Bursledon, Hampshire on 10 August 1756.-At war with France:Lively was commissioned in August 1756 under Captain Francis Wyatt, and after completion sailed for Jamaica on 31 January 1757. On 11 November 1757 she captured the French...
in 1773. The ship was stationed on the North American Station and Hutt moved between ships rapidly during his service there, joining HMS Hind and HMS Scarborough in short order. During the American Revoltionary War Hutt continued service in the Americas, joining the fleet in the West Indies in the small brig HMS St Lucia in 1780. In February 1781, Admiral Sir George Rodney promoted him to command of his own ship, the 14-gun brig HMS Antigua, but Hutt did not have her long. On 28 May 1781, during a concerted effort to seize St Lucia from the British by French admiral de Grasse's fleet, a boarding party overwhelmed the brig at Dauphin Creek.
Hutt was taken prisoner by the French and remained in their hands until November 1781 when he was returned to England on parole
Parole
Parole may have different meanings depending on the field and judiciary system. All of the meanings originated from the French parole . Following its use in late-resurrected Anglo-French chivalric practice, the term became associated with the release of prisoners based on prisoners giving their...
. Hutt was exchanged for a French officer shortly afterwards and faced a court martial for the loss of his ship at which he was exhonerated. In the summer of 1782, Hutt commanded the sloop HMS Trimmer and after the peace, in 1783, took over the 20-gun HMS Camille. In Camille, Hutt sailed to Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
, returning in 1787. In 1790 during the Spanish armament, Hutt became a post captain in the frigate HMS Lizard
HMS Lizard (1757)
HMS Lizard was a 28-gun Coventry-class sixth-rate frigate of the Royal Navy.-References:* Robert Gardiner, The First Frigates, Conway Maritime Press, London 1992. ISBN 0-85177-601-9....
and operated as a fleet scout. He was stationed off Ferrol to observe the Spanish fleet and he brought the news to England that the Spanish had returned to Cadiz
Cádiz
Cadiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the homonymous province, one of eight which make up the autonomous community of Andalusia....
without threatening action.
Glorious First of June
At the outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars Hutt gained command of the 98-gun second rate HMS QueenHMS Queen (1769)
HMS Queen was a three-deck 90-gun second-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 18 September 1769 at Woolwich Dockyard. She was designed by William Bateley, and was the only ship built to her draught...
, the result of patronage by Rear-Admiral Alan Gardner
Alan Gardner, 1st Baron Gardner
Admiral Alan Gardner, 1st Baron Gardner was a British Royal Navy officer and peer of the realm. He became one of the Georgian era's most dashing frigate captains and, ultimately, a respected senior admiral.-Naval career:...
who had commanded Hutt in the West Indies and now personally requested him for this prestigious command. Hutt joined Gardner in the West Indies and Queen was involved in the first unsuccessful attempt to capture Martinique
Martinique
Martinique is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, with a land area of . Like Guadeloupe, it is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. To the northwest lies Dominica, to the south St Lucia, and to the southeast Barbados...
in 1793. A few months later, Gardner's squadron was attached to the Channel Fleet and with that force, under Admiral Lord Howe
Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe
Admiral of the Fleet Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe KG was a British naval officer, notable in particular for his service during the American War of Independence and French Revolutionary Wars. He was the brother of William Howe and George Howe.Howe joined the navy at the age of thirteen and served...
, Queen participated in the Glorious First of June
Glorious First of June
The Glorious First of June [Note A] of 1794 was the first and largest fleet action of the naval conflict between the Kingdom of Great Britain and the First French Republic during the French Revolutionary Wars...
.
In fact, although Queen was heavily engaged at the action of 1 June 1794, Hutt was in no position to command her. On 29 May 1794, as the fleets manoeuvered into position for the main engagement, the French fleet attempting to draw the British away from the convoy, Queen exchanged shots with a number of French ships. The engagement was inconclusive but Hutt was grievously wounded by a cannonball which took one of his legs off. During the main engagement four days later, Hutt was below decks in the ships sick bay.
Hutt was landed at Spithead
Spithead
Spithead is an area of the Solent and a roadstead off Gilkicker Point in Hampshire, England. It is protected from all winds, except those from the southeast...
a few days after the battle, and despite his serious injury, doctors indicated that he was likely to make a full recovery. Unfortunately, a few days later, infection set into the wound and Hutt died on 30 June 1794 as a result. Along with John Harvey
John Harvey (Royal Navy officer)
Captain John Harvey was an officer of the British Royal Navy whose death in the aftermath of the battle of the Glorious First of June where he had commanded the HMS Brunswick terminated a long and highly successful career and made him a celebrity in Britain, a memorial to his memory being raised...
who had died of wounds on the same day as Hutt, and John Montagu
John Montagu
John Montagu may refer to:* John Montagu, 3rd Earl of Salisbury * John Montagu , Master of Trinity College, Cambridge, 1683–1699* John Montagu, 2nd Duke of Montagu...
, who had been killed at the height of the action, Hutt's name was inscribed on a large memorial in St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral, London, is a Church of England cathedral and seat of the Bishop of London. Its dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604. St Paul's sits at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, and is the mother...
in 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...
and the Houses of Parliament gave thanks to those captains who had died in the action.