John Devonshire

Rear-Admiral Sir John Ferris Devonshire (1774–1839) was an officer in the Royal Navy. He joined as a volunteer aboard in 1788 and served in various vessels in the waters around North America and the West Indies until 1795 when he moved to , the flagship of John Jervis. Devonshire was acting lieutenant for a while before Jervis promoted him to full lieutenant aboard , at that time employed in the defence of a British garrison under siege on Basse-Terre.

On 13 October 1796, ''Terpsichore'' captured the Spanish frigate, ''Mahonesa'' off Cartagena. Devonshire was mentioned in dispatches for his part in the battle and consequently promoted to commander. In July 1800, Devonshire was given command of His Majesty's Sloop and fought on board at the Battle of Copenhagen on 2 April following, after which he was made an acting captain. His promotion was confirmed on 27 April and he took command of until the French Revolutionary War ended in 1802.

In January 1812, Devonshire took command of the 64-gun and served in support of those under siege at Cadiz until French forces were forced to withdraw following defeat at Salamanca in July. Re-assigned to North America in the 74-gun in February 1813, Devonshire was on blockade duty off Providence, Rhode Island, when, on 5 December, escaped to sea. Devonshire later transferred to serving in the English Channel but was forced to resign his commission due to ill health. He was forced out of retirement in order to qualify for an additional promotion and in January 1829, he took command of , a guardship on the Hamoaze at Plymouth. Devonshire retired a Rear-Admiral on 22 July 1830. He was nominated for the Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Guelphic Order in January 1835 and died early in 1839.

Early life and career

Born in Cornwall in 1774, John Ferris Devonshire joined the Royal Navy in 1788, as a volunteer aboard the guardship, , at Plymouth.Hore p. 64 He became a midshipman in 1789 and after served on the North American station at Halifax in , then and in the West Indies.Marshall (1832) p. 180

In 1794, Devonshire, who had been commanding various small vessels and co-operating with a Spanish brig in curbing piracy in the waters around Puerto Rico, was rewarded for his conduct when John Jervis promoted him to acting ninth lieutenant aboard the flagship, .Marshall (1832) p. 181 Since the beginning of that year, ''Boyne'' and the other ships in Jervis's fleet, had been supporting troops under Charles Grey in the capture of the French Islands of Martinique, St Lucia and Guadeloupe. In June a French force landed on Guadeloupe and by September had retaken much of the island, leaving the British forces penned in at Fort Matilda on the southern end of Basse-Terre.

Jervis resigned at the end of November and on doing so promoted Devonshire to full lieutenant aboard .Martin p. 65 Under Captain Richard Bowen, ''Terpsichore'' was, at that point, employed in the defence and support of the garrison at Fort Matilda (now Fort Delgrès). Devonshire was responsible for communication between the fort and ships, and the transport of supplies; a role he maintained until the troops were evacuated at the end of December.

''Terpsichore'' then spent some time in the North Sea.Marshall (1824) p. 411 In December 1795, John Jervis went to the Mediterranean as Commander-in-Chief, and ''Terpsichore'' followed shortly after.Campbell p. 79

''Mahonesa''

In early October 1796 the British squadron under Sir John Man was chased into Gibraltar by a Spanish fleet. ''Terpsichore'' was sent to carry news to Jervis, and having met with of Jervis's fleet on 10 October, set off on the return journey to Gibraltar.

''Terpsichore'' was off Cartagena on 13 October, when, at first light, a frigate was seen to windward, clearing for action and preparing to chase.Marshall (1824) p. 412 Bowen was not keen to engage, knowing the Spanish fleet was near and having 30 of his crew in the infirmary and many more weakened by sickness, including Devonshire. Nevertheless, Bowen's sense of duty and belief in his men, compelled him to fight. At 09:30, the two frigates were within hailing and distance and Bowen ordered a gun fired to test the enemy's resolve, which was answered with a full broadside. After a close action lasting an hour and twenty-five minutes, the Spanish ship attempted to disengage. She was pursued by ''Terpsichore'' for a further 20 minutes before surrendering.

The Spanish frigate, turned out to be the ''Mahonesa''. Her masts and most of her rigging had been badly damaged by ''Terpsichore''s fire, several of the guns had been put out of action and many of her crew killed and wounded. ''Terpsichore'' had four wounded. Devonshire was mentioned in dispatches for his part in the battle.

''Mahonesa'' was towed to Gibraltar where she was repaired and taken into service.Marshall (1824) p. 413 She was recommissioned by Devonshire who had been promoted to Commander by the Admiralty, on the strength of Jervis's commendation. He held the command for 4 months before being replaced by a post captain and sent back to England with dispatches.Marshall (1832) p. 182Marshall (1824) p. 414

Copenhagen

In July 1800, Devonshire was given command of His Majesty's Sloop .Marshall (1832) p. 182 In 1801 ''Dart'' was part of the British force sent to break up the League of Armed Neutrality and in April, she fought at the Battle of Copenhagen. ''Dart''s role was to co-operate with and a variety of frigates and sloops at the northern end of the Danish line.Clowes (Vol.IV) p. 432 Due to and going aground early in the battle, she drew more fire from the Trekroner Fort than was intended and was badly mauled by the end of the action, having been subjected to heavy fire for three hours.
Devonshire was appointed acting captain of after the battle. His promotion was confirmed on 27 April and he took command of until hostilities ceased in 1802, and she paid off.

Later career and death

In January 1812, Devonshire commissioned in which he sailed for Cadiz; under siege from French forces since February 1810. After escorting a merchant convoy for part of its journey, Devonshire arrived at Cadiz where he took command of 64-gun .Marshall (1832) p. 183 He and his ship served, in particular, in support of the garrison on the Isla de Leon, until the French were forced to withdraw after their defeat at the Battle of Salamanca in July.

''St Albans'' was paid off in February 1813 and Devonshire was re-assigned to the 74-gun . On 5 December, while ''Albion'' was on blockade duty off Providence, Rhode Island, put to sea. She was seen by Devonshire's crew but ''Albion'' was too far away to prevent her escape. In January 1814, Devonshire was in command of a small squadron, comprising ''Albion'', a frigate and a sloop, which menaced enemy shipping off the Nantucket Shoals and took many prizes.

Ill-health compelled Devonshire to seek employment nearer home, and he later transferred to and returned to England. He served in the Channel for a while but his health did not improve and he resigned his commission.

In order to gain a promotion, Devonshire was obliged to seek a further appointment and in January 1829, he took command of , serving as a guardship on the Hamoaze, Plymouth.Marshall (1832) p. 184 Devonshire retired a Rear-Admiral on 22 July 1830, he was nominated for the Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Guelphic Order in January 1835, and died early in 1839.O'Byrne p. 283

Family

Devonshire had two younger brothers, who followed him into the navy. The first, Henry, was born in 1775 and rose to the rank of lieutenant. Richard, born in 1784, eventually became an admiral like his oldest brother but Henry failed to appear on the Navy List after 1804.

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Devonshire, John
1774 births
1839 deaths
Military personnel from Cornwall
Royal Navy rear admirals
Royal Navy personnel of the French Revolutionary Wars