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Lot Essay
During the Anglo-American War of 1812-14, the event which captured the public's imagination more than any other was the celebrated duel between the Royal Navy's frigate H.M.S. Shannon and the new Republic's frigate Chesapeake.
By 1813 the Royal Navy had suffered a number of setbacks as a result of long months at sea so far from home, including at the hands of the 38-gun frigate Chesapeake. Under the command of Captain James Lawrence, Chesapeake had escaped the British blockade of Boston harbour under the cover of darkness and had spent several months roaming the American coast, a constant thorn in the Royal Navy's side, and a danger to English merchant shipping. On 9th April 1813 she returned to Boston where she was re-fitted, and a new crew were recruited.
Cruising off the eastern seaboard in May, Captain Philip Broke of the Shannon had spotted the American frigates Chesapeake and Constitution refitting in Boston. Broke immediately challenged Captain Lawrence of the Chesapeake to come out and fight, sending a verbal message with the boats of the burnt prizes he had captured off Boston. However, this challenge went unanswered and Broke soon began to despair of Chesapeake ever leaving the harbour, and so he later sent the following written challenge:
"As the Chesapeake appears now ready for sea, I request you will do me the favour to meet the Shannon with her, ship to ship, to try the fortune of our respective flags. The Shannon mounts twenty-four guns upon her broadside and one light boat-gun; 18-pounders upon her main deck, and 32-pounder carronades upon her quarter-deck and forecastle; and is manned with a complement of 300 men and boys, beside thirty seamen, boys, and passengers, who were taken out of recaptured vessels lately. I entreat you, sir, not to imagine that I am urged by mere personal vanity to the wish of meeting the Chesapeake, or that I depend only upon your personal ambition for your acceding to this invitation. We have both noble motives. You will feel it as a compliment if I say that the result of our meeting may be the most grateful service I can render to my country; and I doubt not that you, equally confident of success, will feel convinced that it is only by repeated triumphs in even combats that your little navy can now hope to console your country for the loss of that trade it can no longer protect. Favour me with a speedy reply. We are short of provisions and water, and cannot stay long here."
However Broke's note just missed Captain Lawrence, who had always intended to set sail on the first day of favourable weather with the aim of capturing the English packet which ferried mail and orders for the English Army back and forth across the Atlantic. On rare occasions on the outward journey she also carried soldiers' pay, a small prize, but a rich asset for the beleagured American Generals.
At noon on 1st June 1813, Chesapeake weighed anchor and stood out of Boston Roads accompanied by a small flotilla of pleasure craft crowded with spectators anxious to witness the fight. It was about 1800 hours before the two ships opened fire at a range of around 35 metres, with Shannon scoring the first hit, as seen in the work above, striking the Chesapeake on one of her forward gunports with two round shot and a bag of musket balls. Chesapeake was moving faster than the Shannon and as she ranged down the side of the British ship the destruction inflicted by the methodical gunnery of the British crew moved aft, though the American's forward gun crews were hardest hit. However, the American crew were well drilled, and despite their losses, were firing effectively.
A furious action followed lasting a mere fifteen minutes, and both Captain Lawrence and Captain Broke were mortally wounded, the latter whilst leading his boarding party, and casualties on both vessels were very high. Soon overwhelmed, Chesapeake surrendered, and Shannon took her as a prize into Halifax, Nova Scotia, where the captors were given a heroes' welcome on 6th June.
Montague Dawson painted four other known versions of the action between Shannon and Chesapeake, all of which have slightly different compositions, one of which was sold by Christie's, New York in 2006.
By 1813 the Royal Navy had suffered a number of setbacks as a result of long months at sea so far from home, including at the hands of the 38-gun frigate Chesapeake. Under the command of Captain James Lawrence, Chesapeake had escaped the British blockade of Boston harbour under the cover of darkness and had spent several months roaming the American coast, a constant thorn in the Royal Navy's side, and a danger to English merchant shipping. On 9
Cruising off the eastern seaboard in May, Captain Philip Broke of the Shannon had spotted the American frigates Chesapeake and Constitution refitting in Boston. Broke immediately challenged Captain Lawrence of the Chesapeake to come out and fight, sending a verbal message with the boats of the burnt prizes he had captured off Boston. However, this challenge went unanswered and Broke soon began to despair of Chesapeake ever leaving the harbour, and so he later sent the following written challenge:
"As the Chesapeake appears now ready for sea, I request you will do me the favour to meet the Shannon with her, ship to ship, to try the fortune of our respective flags. The Shannon mounts twenty-four guns upon her broadside and one light boat-gun; 18-pounders upon her main deck, and 32-pounder carronades upon her quarter-deck and forecastle; and is manned with a complement of 300 men and boys, beside thirty seamen, boys, and passengers, who were taken out of recaptured vessels lately. I entreat you, sir, not to imagine that I am urged by mere personal vanity to the wish of meeting the Chesapeake, or that I depend only upon your personal ambition for your acceding to this invitation. We have both noble motives. You will feel it as a compliment if I say that the result of our meeting may be the most grateful service I can render to my country; and I doubt not that you, equally confident of success, will feel convinced that it is only by repeated triumphs in even combats that your little navy can now hope to console your country for the loss of that trade it can no longer protect. Favour me with a speedy reply. We are short of provisions and water, and cannot stay long here."
However Broke's note just missed Captain Lawrence, who had always intended to set sail on the first day of favourable weather with the aim of capturing the English packet which ferried mail and orders for the English Army back and forth across the Atlantic. On rare occasions on the outward journey she also carried soldiers' pay, a small prize, but a rich asset for the beleagured American Generals.
At noon on 1
A furious action followed lasting a mere fifteen minutes, and both Captain Lawrence and Captain Broke were mortally wounded, the latter whilst leading his boarding party, and casualties on both vessels were very high. Soon overwhelmed, Chesapeake surrendered, and Shannon took her as a prize into Halifax, Nova Scotia, where the captors were given a heroes' welcome on 6
Montague Dawson painted four other known versions of the action between Shannon and Chesapeake, all of which have slightly different compositions, one of which was sold by Christie's, New York in 2006.