Admiral John Benbow: A Fateful Engagement

John Benbow (Shrewsbury, Shropshire, 10th March 1653 – Port Royal, Kingston, Jamaica, 4th November 1702) 

By Sir Godfrey Kneller

When I was just a lass, one of my favourite stories and one that I return to even now on occasion was Treasure Island. As you no doubt already know, the action starts in the unassuming surroundings of a tavern that goes by the name of the Admiral Benbow. As a girl I naturally had no idea where this inn had found its name but as I grew older and my interest in all things Georgian increased, then I learnt the tale of the real Admiral Benbow and since today marks the anniversary of his death, it seemed like a good time to share that story with you.

Benbow served with the Royal Navy from  the age of twenty five. Despite the occasional brush with authority and a some time spent in private service, he eventually returned to the forces and rose through the ranks during a series of voyages and missions. 

By the time Benbow found himself commanding the fleet in the West Indies in 1701, he had attained the title of Admiral and was held in high esteem by his superiors and at court. On the fateful day of 19th August 1702, Benbow's ships encountered French forces off the coast of Santa Marta and gave chase. Although Benbow led his group of seven across five long days of pursuit, four of his fellow captains appeared less keen and seemed to deliberately hang back, showing no inclination to engage the French.

When the battle finally commenced, a barrage of chain shot struck the deck of HMS Breda where Benbow stood, shattering his right leg. Still the Admiral remained above decks, determined to remain in command until his injuries finally compelled him to make for the safety of Jamaica.

Upon reaching land the furious Benbow set in motion the court martial of his fellow captains for their insubordination. Although they would be convicted and two executed, the Admiral did not life to see their fate. Instead, his condition began to deteriorate and despite efforts to treat the terrible injuries to his leg, things appeared to be going downhill fast for the Admiral. 

He lingered on for months and into autumn but, on 4th November 1702, Admiral Benbow succumbed to his wounds. He died in Port Royal and was laid to rest in Kingston, though he lives on in the tales of the Royal Navy and Treasure Island alike!

The Death of George I

George I (George Louis, Osnabrück, Holy Roman Empire, 28th May 1660 - Osnabrück, Germany, 11th June 1727)

George I by Godfrey Kneller, 1714

We're not feeling too cheery in the salon today because I have been reflecting on the death of the man whose reign began the glorious Georgian era. Far from a romantic hero, George I did not endear himself to his family, ministers or many of his subjects and on 11th June 1727, the first Hanovarian king of England died during a visit to his beloved native lands.

Since his coronation in 1714, the country of George's birth was never far from his mind though his home was predominantly in England, he had made several trips back to Hanover in the intervening years. The journey of 1727 was to be his last and he was accompanied on the trip by Melusine von der Schulenburg, Duchess of Kendal. Immensely powerful at court, the Duchess was George's mistress of many years standing and, some whispered, his secret wife.

On 9th June, as the group travelled between Delden and Nordhorn, George was afflicted by a major stroke. Barely clinging to life he was rushed to the comfort of Schloss Osnabrück, home of his brother, Ernest Augustus, Duke of York and Albany. Here the king lingered on the verge of death for two days before he died in the early hours of 11th June.

George I was laid to rest in the chapel of the Leineschloss and here he remained for over two centuries. When the palace was destroyed by bombing raids during World War II, George was removed and reburied at Herrenhausen, where he remains to this day.

Life in the Georgian Court, true tales of 18th century royalty, is available at the links below.

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The Death of Queen Mary

Queen Mary II of England (London, England, 30th April 1662 - London, England, 28th December 1694)

Queen Mary by Sir Godfrey Kneller, 1690

Queen Mary swept into power in 1689 alongside her husband, William III at the dawn of our glorious long 18th century. Their reign was short but memorable and today we join the queen at the end of her life, nearing death.

Mary was always fit and energetic so it must have come as a terrible shock to courtiers to discover that this most vibrant queen had contracted smallpox towards the end of 1694. The infection was virulent in England at the time and Mary immediately recognised her illness what it was and took steps to ensure that it didn't spread unduly. She went into seclusion at Kensington Palace and dismissed any members of court who had not previously suffered from the infection. Mindful of the danger, she refused to see even her closest family members for fear of their contracting smallpox too.

Mary did not linger and swiftly declined, dying in the small hours of 28th December, leaving her husband to rule on alone. The people of England mourned their queen throughout a bitter winter and she was laid to rest at Westminster Abbey on 5th March 1695. William declared that he would never recover from her death and he passed away less than a decade later, leaving no children to take the throne.

Life in the Georgian Court, true tales of 18th century royalty, is available at the links below.

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The Financial Misfortunes of James Brydges, Duke of Chandos

James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos, PC DL FRS (Hereford, England, 6th January 1673 – England, 9th August 1744) 

James Brydges, Duke of Chandos by Michael Dahl, 1719

We're back in England today to meet a gentleman who went from the heights of wealth to the doldrums of debt and provided sport for Alexander Pope along the way!

James Brydges was the oldest child of fourteen children born to Sir James Brydges, 8th Baron Chandos and Elizabeth Barnard. In addition to the title of Baron Chandos, taken after his father's death, he was also 1st Viscount Wilton, 1st Earl of Carnarvon, 1st Duke of Chandos and 1st Marquess of Carnarvon. He served as Member of Parliament for Hereford for almost twenty years, making and losing a fortune in the process.

Like many of his peers, the Duke enjoyed a privileged upbringing. He was schooled at Westminster and Oxford University before beginning a highly lucrative political career as Paymaster-General of the Forces Abroad during the War of the Spanish Succession. Enjoying the patronage of the Duke of Marlborough, Brydges became a Duke in 1717 and lived a high profile life of luxury and influence.

The Chandos Family by Godfrey Kneller, 1713 (The Duke, Henry, Cassandra Willoughby, his second wife, and John)

We Georgians know that there is no sense in having money if you don't let everybody know about it and Brydges understood that better than most. As part of his first wife's dowry he took up hime at Canons, a country estate in Middlesex, and began work on a house in Cavendish Square that was never completed. Although the Duke was a man who liked to show off his wealth he wasn't entirely without a social conscience and was involved in the creation of the Foundling Hospital, serving as a governor to the charity. He was also a champion of education and founded the Chandos Chair of Medicine and Anatomy at the University of St Andrews, which still exists today.

When he wasn't occupied with universities, charity and grand building schemes, the Duke was a lover of the arts and employed Handel as a live-in composer in Middlesex. Handel composed the Chandos Anthems in recognition of the Duke's generosity and the two were devoted friends until the our hero's finances became a little stretched, at which point Handel departed Canons for pastures new. Like the subject of our post earlier this week, the Duke was considerably less popular with Alexander Pope, who took an affectionate swipe at Canons in Epistle to the Earl of Burlington. However, once word began to spread that Brydges was the subject of his satire, Pope was quick to claim that no malice or mockery had been intended. 

James Brydges, Duke of Chandos by Herman van der Mijn, 1725

Despite his early financial success, the Duke of Chandos was not always so canny when it came to financial speculation. He made poor investments and lost a fortune when the  South Sea Bubble burst, though a judicious marriage kept him afloat, if in somewhat reduced circumstances. In fact, the true extent his monetary straits only became known after his death when his son, Henry, became 2nd Duke of Chandos and found himself deeply mired in his father's debt. So dire was the situation that the new Duke was left with no choice but to sell off the contents, fittings and architectural elements of Canons before having the remains of the house demolished in 1747.

Monument at Whitchurch
(photograph from www.findagrave.com)

The Duke was predeceased by two of his three wives and one of his two children. He was laid to rest in Whitchurch and his monument is as lavish as you might expect from a man who knew how to show off his wealth, even when he had none!