Genealogy research by Mark Humphrys.
Genealogy research by Mark Humphrys.
Capt. Goddard Blennerhassett,
|
He captures the French ship the Thetis, 1808:
Goddard served as First Lieutenant under Capt. Michael Seymour (also an Irishman) on the Amethyst. They captured the French ship Thetis in the Action of 10 November 1808 off France. This was part of a blockade of French Bay of Biscay ports by the Royal Navy. Goddard was promoted to Commander the next day, 11 Nov 1808. He and Capt. Seymour were honoured by Cork Corporation on 28 Nov 1808. See item in Finns Leinster Journal, December 7, 1808. Seymour was created a Baronet in 1809. |
Goddard became commanding officer of
the Phipps
in Dec 1810.
But did not stay in that post long.
In Jan 1811,
he became
commanding officer of Challenger.
He is listed as
Captain
for a period.
His letters appear in "Letters from Captains" series at Admiralty, 1811 to 1814.
He is captured by the French, 1811:
On 12 Mar 1811, he and his ship the Challenger
were captured by "a French frigate and an armed store-ship, off the Seven Islands"
[Royal Naval Biography].
Not clear which
Seven Islands
this refers to.
When he returned from captivity, he was tried by a court martial in May 1814
and honourably acquitted, and even praised.
He is later listed again as "Commander" in
[Treble Almanac 1829].
This does not represent a demotion.
Captain is a position and honorific as well as a rank.
So when he was made
commanding officer of Challenger,
he would have held the substantive rank of "Commander"
but would have been referred to, and held the appointment, as "Captain".
[Royal Naval Biography]
has him as never higher than Commander in substantive rank.
Confusingly, he had a nephew
Goddard Blennerhassett (born 1802)
who was a Commander in the Royal Navy
and died before him, in 1833.
[Bill Jehan]
says he
remained a Commander on half-pay,
and
retired as Captain 1840.
He
died without issue, 1843, age 65 yrs.
See notice
in Kerry Evening Post, October 11, 1843.
Lists him as Captain.
See entry
at
threedecks.org.
The movie
Master and Commander (2003)
shows a fictional naval battle in 1805.
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