Johnston Blakeley
Encyclopedia
Johnston Blakeley also spelled Johnston Blakely (October 1781 - October 1814) was an officer in the United States Navy
during the Quasi-War
with France
and the War of 1812
. He is considered to be the most successful American naval officer of that period.
, County Down
, Ireland
. Brought to the United States
as a child in 1783, he graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
, where he was a member of The Dialectic and Philanthropic Societies
, in 1800, then joined the Navy and was appointed a Midshipman
in 1800.
After service in during the Quasi-War with France and command of early in the War of 1812, Master Commandant
Blakeley was appointed to command of the newly built sloop-of-war
.
In 1814, he made a very successful cruise which in June included the sinking of HMS Reindeer
. In September, in a similar action, Blakeley sunk the HMS Avon. Wasp was last heard of 9 October 1814 and is believed to have foundered in a gale.http://books.google.com.pk/books?id=fAm1Y6gjYtwC&pg=PA32&lpg=PA32&dq=how+did+johnston+blakely+vanish&source=bl&ots=feDraf5fP4&sig=JVB1eCua3AL9HbujC5qtwYNvl0s&hl=en&ei=UJ3FSsW3OoGNkAXa1qQ1&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1#v=onepage&q=&f=false Blakeley received the Thanks of Congress
, a gold medal, and posthumous advancement to the rank of Captain for his last cruise.
Captain Blakeley was married, in December, 1813, to Miss Jane Hoope, the daughter of his father’s old friend, Mr. Hoope, of New York
; and has left an only daughter, who received one of the most noble and substantial and affecting tributes of national gratitude which has occurred in the history of this country. The legislature of North Carolina
, on 27 December 1816, after prescribing the destination of the sword they had voted to Captain Blakeley, "Resolved, unanimously, That Captain Blakeley’s child be educated at the expense of this State; and that Mrs. Jane Blakeley be requested to draw on the Treasurer of this State, from time to time, for such sums of money as shall be required for the education of the said child."
in 1904 for the United States Navy
, which eventually commissioned eight more of the Blakely Class ships. The second was a during World War II
. The third Knox-class
destroyer escort
, later to be reclassified as a frigate
. She was named for both Captain Johnston Blakeley and Vice Admiral Charles Adams Blakely
. Admiral Blakely claimed to be a nephew of Johnston Blakeley. However, Johnston Blakeley had no siblings who survied to adulthood. Therefore, it is not possible for anyone to be a nephew or grandnephew of Johnston Blakeley.
Blakely Island
, part of the San Juan Islands
in Washington state, and Port Blakely
were named by Charles Wilkes
during the Wilkes Expedition of 1838-1842, in honor of Johnston Blakeley. Also part of the San Juan Islands chain, incidentally, are a group of islands to which Wilkes bestowed the name "Wasp Islands
" after the Wasp. Their namesake, however, was not the same vessel commanded by Blakely, but an earlier , also a sloop-of-war, which was commissioned in 1807 and captured by the British in the early months of the War of 1812.
The U.S. city of Blakely
, county seat of Early County
in southwest Georgia
, was also named for Captain Blakeley.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during the Quasi-War
Quasi-War
The Quasi-War was an undeclared war fought mostly at sea between the United States and French Republic from 1798 to 1800. In the United States, the conflict was sometimes also referred to as the Franco-American War, the Pirate Wars, or the Half-War.-Background:The Kingdom of France had been a...
with France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
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...
. He is considered to be the most successful American naval officer of that period.
Biography
Blakeley was born near SeafordSeaford
-In the United States of America:*Seaford, Delaware*Seaford, New York*Seaford, Virginia*Seaford Hundred, an unincorporated subdivision of Sussex County, Delaware; see List of Delaware Hundreds-In Australia:*Seaford, Victoria**Seaford railway station, Melbourne...
, County Down
County Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
, Ireland
Kingdom of Ireland
The Kingdom of Ireland refers to the country of Ireland in the period between the proclamation of Henry VIII as King of Ireland by the Crown of Ireland Act 1542 and the Act of Union in 1800. It replaced the Lordship of Ireland, which had been created in 1171...
. Brought to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as a child in 1783, he graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
, where he was a member of The Dialectic and Philanthropic Societies
The Dialectic and Philanthropic Societies
The Dialectic and Philanthropic Societies, commonly known as Di-Phi, are the debate and literary societies of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.- History :...
, in 1800, then joined the Navy and was appointed a Midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
in 1800.
After service in during the Quasi-War with France and command of early in the War of 1812, Master Commandant
Master Commandant
Master commandant was a rank within the early United States Navy. The rank of master commandant was slightly higher than lieutenant, and a master commandant would often command warships too small to justify the command of a full captain. In the United States Navy, the rank was shortened to...
Blakeley was appointed to command of the newly built sloop-of-war
Sloop-of-war
In the 18th and most of the 19th centuries, a sloop-of-war was a warship with a single gun deck that carried up to eighteen guns. As the rating system covered all vessels with 20 guns and above, this meant that the term sloop-of-war actually encompassed all the unrated combat vessels including the...
.
In 1814, he made a very successful cruise which in June included the sinking of HMS Reindeer
Sinking of HMS Reindeer
The sinking of HMS Reindeer was one of the hardest-fought naval actions in the Anglo-American War of 1812. It took place on 28 June 1814. The ship-rigged sloop of war USS Wasp forced the Cruizer class brig-sloop HMS Reindeer to surrender after far more than half the brig's crew, including the...
. In September, in a similar action, Blakeley sunk the HMS Avon. Wasp was last heard of 9 October 1814 and is believed to have foundered in a gale.http://books.google.com.pk/books?id=fAm1Y6gjYtwC&pg=PA32&lpg=PA32&dq=how+did+johnston+blakely+vanish&source=bl&ots=feDraf5fP4&sig=JVB1eCua3AL9HbujC5qtwYNvl0s&hl=en&ei=UJ3FSsW3OoGNkAXa1qQ1&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1#v=onepage&q=&f=false Blakeley received the Thanks of Congress
Thanks of Congress
The Thanks of Congress are a series of formal resolutions passed by the United States Congress originally to extend the government's formal thanks for significant victories or impressive actions by American military commanders and their troops. Although it began during the American Revolutionary...
, a gold medal, and posthumous advancement to the rank of Captain for his last cruise.
Captain Blakeley was married, in December, 1813, to Miss Jane Hoope, the daughter of his father’s old friend, Mr. Hoope, of 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...
; and has left an only daughter, who received one of the most noble and substantial and affecting tributes of national gratitude which has occurred in the history of this country. The legislature of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, on 27 December 1816, after prescribing the destination of the sword they had voted to Captain Blakeley, "Resolved, unanimously, That Captain Blakeley’s child be educated at the expense of this State; and that Mrs. Jane Blakeley be requested to draw on the Treasurer of this State, from time to time, for such sums of money as shall be required for the education of the said child."
Namesakes
Three ships were named in Captain Blakeley's honor. The first launched a new class of torpedo boatTorpedo boat
A torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval vessel designed to carry torpedoes into battle. The first designs rammed enemy ships with explosive spar torpedoes, and later designs launched self-propelled Whitehead torpedoes. They were created to counter battleships and other large, slow and...
in 1904 for the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, which eventually commissioned eight more of the Blakely Class ships. The second was a during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The third Knox-class
Knox class frigate
Knox class frigates were United States Navy warships, originally laid down as ocean escorts , but were all redesignated as frigates on 30 June 1975 in the USN 1975 ship reclassification and their hull designation changed from DE to FF.A sub-class of the Knox class was built, commonly referred to as...
destroyer escort
Destroyer escort
A destroyer escort is the classification for a smaller, lightly armed warship designed to be used to escort convoys of merchant marine ships, primarily of the United States Merchant Marine in World War II. It is employed primarily for anti-submarine warfare, but also provides some protection...
, later to be reclassified as a 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"...
. She was named for both Captain Johnston Blakeley and Vice Admiral Charles Adams Blakely
Charles Adams Blakely
Vice Admiral Charles Adams Blakely was the great grandnephew of Capt. Johnston Blakeley and an officer in the United States Navy during World War I and the interwar period....
. Admiral Blakely claimed to be a nephew of Johnston Blakeley. However, Johnston Blakeley had no siblings who survied to adulthood. Therefore, it is not possible for anyone to be a nephew or grandnephew of Johnston Blakeley.
Blakely Island
Blakely Island, Washington
Blakely Island in San Juan County, Washington is the sixth largest island in the San Juan Islands of Washington State, USA, encompassing a land area of 16.852 km² . It is separated from Cypress Island to the east by Rosario Strait. The population was 56 persons as of the 2000 census. There is no...
, part of the San Juan Islands
San Juan Islands
The San Juan Islands are an archipelago in the northwest corner of the contiguous United States between the US mainland and Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The San Juan Islands are part of the U.S...
in Washington state, and Port Blakely
Port Blakely, Bainbridge Island, Washington
Port Blakely is a community of Bainbridge Island, Washington. It is located on the east side of the island, slightly to the south. The centre of Port Blakely is generally defined as the intersection of Blakely Hill Road and Blakely Avenue NE, although the wider area is generally also known as...
were named by Charles Wilkes
Charles Wilkes
Charles Wilkes was an American naval officer and explorer. He led the United States Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842 and commanded the ship in the Trent Affair during the American Civil War...
during the Wilkes Expedition of 1838-1842, in honor of Johnston Blakeley. Also part of the San Juan Islands chain, incidentally, are a group of islands to which Wilkes bestowed the name "Wasp Islands
Wasp Islands
The Wasp Islands are a group of small islands in the San Juan Islands of the U.S. state of Washington.The name was given by Charles Wilkes during the Wilkes Expedition of 1838-1842, in honor of the sloop Wasp, a sloop of war commanded by Jacob Jones during the War of 1812....
" after the Wasp. Their namesake, however, was not the same vessel commanded by Blakely, but an earlier , also a sloop-of-war, which was commissioned in 1807 and captured by the British in the early months of the War of 1812.
The U.S. city of Blakely
Blakely, Georgia
Blakely is a town in Early County, Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 5,068. This town is the county seat of Early County.-Geography:Blakely is located at ....
, county seat of Early County
Early County, Georgia
Early County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 15, 1818 and was named for Peter Early. As of 2010, the population is 11,008. The county seat is Blakely.-Geography:...
in southwest Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, was also named for Captain Blakeley.