John Phillimore
Encyclopedia
Sir John Phillimore CB (18 January 1781 – 21 March 1840) was an officer of the Royal Navy
who saw service during the French Revolutionary
and Napoleonic Wars
. He was involved in several notable actions during his active career, taking part in both Battles of Copenhagen, sending Sir Hyde Parker's famous signal to Nelson
in the first, and fighting off Danish gunboats in the second. He went on to win a hard fought victory over a French frigate in 1814 and reaped the rewards. He was at times a controversial figure, causing a scandal when he thrashed the naval historian William James
with a stick for apparently badly representing Phillimore's conduct, and on another occasion inviting rebuke from the Navy Board
for his request for more paint for his ship. He nevertheless became an aide-de-camp
to the young Queen Victoria
, and took important steps to reform how the lower ranks and ordinary seamen were treated in the Navy.
Phillimore was born on 18 January 1781, the third son of the Reverend Joseph Phillimore, the rector
of Orton on the Hill
, Leicestershire
, and his wife Mary. His naval service began when he joined Captain George Murray's
36-gun frigate
as a volunteer first class in June 1794. Phillimore was present at the Battle of Groix
on 23 June 1795 as a midshipman
, before both he and Murray moved aboard the 74-gun . They fought at the Battle of Cape St Vincent, and after surviving the wreck of the Colossus in St Mary's harbour
, Isles of Scilly
, were briefly aboard , before moving again aboard .
Phillimore and the Edgar went with Sir Hyde Parker's fleet for his expedition to the Baltic in 1801. During the Battle of Copenhagen
Phillimore had been sent to Parker's flagship
, the 90-gun to take his examination. He served as the Londons acting-signal lieutenant during the battle, sending Parker's famous signal for Nelson to withdraw. Nelson, directing action aboard , was informed of the signal by the signal lieutenant, Frederick Langford, but angrily responded: 'I told you to look out on the Danish commodore and let me know when he surrendered. Keep your eyes fixed on him.' He then turned to his flag captain, Thomas Foley, and said 'You know, Foley, I have only one eye. I have a right to be blind sometimes.' He raised the telescope to his blind eye, and said 'I really do not see the signal.' Phillimore returned to the Edgar after the battle, where he learnt that the Edgars first lieutenant had been killed in the engagement. A round of general promotions of the junior officers followed, and Phillimore was promoted to lieutenant.
. With the Peace of Amiens Phillimore was appointed as first lieutenant of the brig-sloop , being promoted to commander on 10 May 1804. He received his first command, that of the 20-gun , in October 1805. He commanded the Cormorant in the North Sea
until September 1806, when he was moved to take command of the 18-gun . He commanded her in the English Channel and the Downs
, taking part in Commodore Edward Owen's
attack on Bolougne. The Belette was occupied in early 1807 with conveying supplies to the besieged town of Kolberg, after which she was attached to Admiral James Gambier's
fleet which returned to the Baltic to attack Copenhagen again in 1807
. Phillimore distinguished himself during the battle, particularly in an engagement at the end of August, when the Belette became becalmed off the Danish coast. She was attacked by 16 Danish gunboat
s, of which Phillimore managed to sink three before other British ships arrived and towed him clear. Gambier rewarded his courage by giving him the honour of carrying his despatches to the Admiralty
, as a result of which he received a promotion to post captain on 13 October 1807.
back to Britain in February 1808. At some point while sailing to Gothenburg
he had the misfortune to encounter the only two decker in the Danish Navy, which he escaped by sailing into shallower waters. Promotion eventually left him without a ship however, though he temporarily took over command of the 74-gun in June 1809 with the temporary absence of her captain, Graham Moore
. He took part in the Walcheren Campaign
until Moore's return to command in late 1809. Phillimore's next command was the nominally 64-gun , though she had been converted into a troopship
some years earlier and by the time Phillimore became her captain in June 1810, she only mounted 32 guns.
on the subject of paint. With the Diadem now only mounting 32 guns, the Board directed that she should receive stores equivalent to a ship of this rating, despite her much larger size and complement, and despite Phillimore's protests. Consequently he only received money for enough paint to paint half his ship. Phillimore sent a pointed letter to the Board enquiring which half they wished him to paint, the starboard side or the larboard side. He then signed the letter "your affectionate friend". The Board admonished him for this, pointing out that the custom of signing "your affectionate friend" was one practised by its own members and was the address used from a superior officer to an inferior one. Phillimore acknowledged his mistake, signing himself "no longer your affectionate friend". The correspondence appears to have had its effect; the allowance was duly doubled. Phillimore spent his time in command of the Diadem carrying troops to and from the Iberian peninsula, supporting Arthur Wellesley's
operations
there.
On 4 May 1813 Phillimore received command of the new 38-gun frigate , which had been armed with an experimental mix of guns to a design by Sir William Congreve. The Eurotas was initially attached to the fleet blockading Brest
and on 23 October Phillimore was present at the capture of the Dutch frigate Trave. In January 1814 was despatched to Lorient
, where three French frigates had been reported as preparing to put to sea. They escaped to sea under cover of night and heavy weather, and despite pursuing them for three days, Phillimore was eventually forced to return to Britain to re-provision. She returned to sea again, and on 25 February came across the French frigate Clorinde
. A long and sustained battle was fought, which eventually left Eurotas totally dismasted, and with 20 of her men killed and 40 wounded, with Phillimore among the latter. Eurotass first lieutenant took over while Phillimore was carried below to be seen by the surgeon. A jury-rig was erected and the chase resumed during the night. The Clorinde had also been badly damaged during the engagement, losing 40 killed and 80 wounded, and was steadily being overtaken by the Eurotas, when two British ships came upon the scene, and . Dryad brought Clorinde to with a single shot and the Frenchman surrendered. In 1847 the Admiralty authorized the issuance of the Naval General Service Medal with clasp "EUROTAS 25 FEBY. 1814" to all still surviving members of Eurota's crew that had participated in the action.
, the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
. Talbot knighted him for his services on 12 December 1821. Phillimore next received command of the 46-gun frigate in March 1823, and was sent to Mexico
to convey a commission of political enquiry, and to the West Indies, and later on to Africa, South America and the Mediterranean. He made a large sum of money by returning with valuable cargoes to Britain in 1824, including $400,000 of specie and 300 bales of cochineal
from Havana
.
in Britain that year his attention was drawn to a passage recently published in William James's
Naval History of Great Britain, which described the battle between Eurotas and Clorinde. In it James had noted that the 24 pounders had not done as much as had 18 pounders in other actions, and that Eurotas had been in commission long enough for her crew 'to have been taught a few practical rules of gunnery'. A furious Phillimore considered this a slur on his character and took 48 hours leave to go up to London. He and a friend went to James's house and upon meeting him, Phillimore declared that the account of the battle was false. James defended his book, and harsh words were exchanged, which led to Phillimore thrashing James with his stick. The case was examined by a magistrate and Phillimore was forced to pay James £100 in damages.
during the First Anglo-Ashanti War in 1824. On the return voyage he stopped to re-provision at St Michael's
in August. The English residents of the settlement asked Phillimore to have the burial ground there consecrated, a task he delegated to his ship's chaplain, to be carried out the next day at noon. The chaplain pointed out that consecrations could only be carried out by a bishop. Phillimore responded by appointing the chaplain 'acting-bishop of St Michael's', and the consecration was duly carried out.
to his post. On the return voyage she put into Gibraltar
, shortly after a gale had driven 17 British merchants ashore at the head of the bay
. The Spanish governor of the area claimed jurisdiction and the right of salvage over them, but Phillimore took his boats out and drove off the Spanish forces that had attempted to take possession over them. This precedent helped to define the rights and jurisdictions of the British forces in Gibraltar and Phillimore received letters of thanks from the merchants at Gibraltar, and from Lloyd's of London
for saving the cargoes.
The Thetis was paid off in November 1826, and Phillmore never again served at sea. He was however appointed a naval aide-de-camp
to King William IV
in September 1831, a position he retained under Queen Victoria
.
and had two sons and four daughters. His youngest son, Henry Bourchier Phillimore, became an admiral. John Phillimore died on 21 March 1840 at the age of 59, and was buried at Bray
. His wife died a few months later and was buried beside him.
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
who saw service during the French Revolutionary
French Revolutionary Wars
The French Revolutionary Wars were a series of major conflicts, from 1792 until 1802, fought between the French Revolutionary government and several European states...
and Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
. He was involved in several notable actions during his active career, taking part in both Battles of Copenhagen, sending Sir Hyde Parker's famous signal to Nelson
Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson
Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bronté, KB was a flag officer famous for his service in the Royal Navy, particularly during the Napoleonic Wars. He was noted for his inspirational leadership and superb grasp of strategy and unconventional tactics, which resulted in a number of...
in the first, and fighting off Danish gunboats in the second. He went on to win a hard fought victory over a French frigate in 1814 and reaped the rewards. He was at times a controversial figure, causing a scandal when he thrashed the naval historian William James
William James (naval historian)
William M. James was a British lawyer turned naval historian who wrote important naval histories of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793-1815.-Career:...
with a stick for apparently badly representing Phillimore's conduct, and on another occasion inviting rebuke from the Navy Board
Navy Board
The Navy Board is today the body responsible for the day-to-day running of the British Royal Navy. Its composition is identical to that of the Admiralty Board of the Defence Council of the United Kingdom, except that it does not include any of Her Majesty's Ministers.From 1546 to 1831, the Navy...
for his request for more paint for his ship. He nevertheless became an aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to the young Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
, and took important steps to reform how the lower ranks and ordinary seamen were treated in the Navy.
Family and early life
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of Orton on the Hill
Orton on the Hill
Orton on the Hill is a hamlet forming part of the Twycross civil parish in the Hinckley and Bosworth district of Leicestershire, England. It is furthermore located in the Sparkenhoe Hundred. The name is derived from its high situation on a hill overlooking four counties,...
, Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
, and his wife Mary. His naval service began when he joined Captain George Murray's
George Murray (Royal Navy officer)
Vice-Admiral Sir George Murray KCB was an officer in the Royal Navy who saw service in a wide range of theatres and campaigns. His active naval career spanned the American War of Independence and the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars...
36-gun 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"...
as a volunteer first class in June 1794. Phillimore was present at the Battle of Groix
Battle of Groix
The Second Battle of Groix was a naval engagement that took place on 23 June 1795 during the French Revolutionary War off the west coast of France....
on 23 June 1795 as 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...
, before both he and Murray moved aboard the 74-gun . They fought at the Battle of Cape St Vincent, and after surviving the wreck of the Colossus in St Mary's harbour
St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly
St Mary's is the largest island of the Isles of Scilly, an archipelago off the southwest coast of Cornwall in the United Kingdom.-Description:...
, Isles of Scilly
Isles of Scilly
The Isles of Scilly form an archipelago off the southwestern tip of the Cornish peninsula of Great Britain. The islands have had a unitary authority council since 1890, and are separate from the Cornwall unitary authority, but some services are combined with Cornwall and the islands are still part...
, were briefly aboard , before moving again aboard .
Phillimore and the Edgar went with Sir Hyde Parker's fleet for his expedition to the Baltic in 1801. During the Battle of Copenhagen
Battle of Copenhagen (1801)
The Battle of Copenhagen was an engagement which saw a British fleet under the command of Admiral Sir Hyde Parker fight and strategically defeat a Danish-Norwegian fleet anchored just off Copenhagen on 2 April 1801. Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson led the main attack. He famously disobeyed Parker's...
Phillimore had been sent to Parker's flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
, the 90-gun to take his examination. He served as the Londons acting-signal lieutenant during the battle, sending Parker's famous signal for Nelson to withdraw. Nelson, directing action aboard , was informed of the signal by the signal lieutenant, Frederick Langford, but angrily responded: 'I told you to look out on the Danish commodore and let me know when he surrendered. Keep your eyes fixed on him.' He then turned to his flag captain, Thomas Foley, and said 'You know, Foley, I have only one eye. I have a right to be blind sometimes.' He raised the telescope to his blind eye, and said 'I really do not see the signal.' Phillimore returned to the Edgar after the battle, where he learnt that the Edgars first lieutenant had been killed in the engagement. A round of general promotions of the junior officers followed, and Phillimore was promoted to lieutenant.
Command
Phillimore remained in the Baltic, serving briefly aboard the London again, before moving aboard the 80-gun and serving with Murray off CadizCádiz
Cadiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the homonymous province, one of eight which make up the autonomous community of Andalusia....
. With the Peace of Amiens Phillimore was appointed as first lieutenant of the brig-sloop , being promoted to commander on 10 May 1804. He received his first command, that of the 20-gun , in October 1805. He commanded the Cormorant in the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
until September 1806, when he was moved to take command of the 18-gun . He commanded her in the English Channel and the Downs
The Downs
The Downs are a roadstead or area of sea in the southern North Sea near the English Channel off the east Kent coast, between the North and the South Foreland in southern England. In 1639 the Battle of the Downs took place here, when the Dutch navy destroyed a Spanish fleet which had sought refuge...
, taking part in Commodore Edward Owen's
Edward Owen (Royal Navy officer)
Admiral Sir Edward William Campbell Rich Owen GCB GCH was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet. He was the son of Captain William Owen and elder brother of Vice-Admiral William Fitzwilliam Owen....
attack on Bolougne. The Belette was occupied in early 1807 with conveying supplies to the besieged town of Kolberg, after which she was attached to Admiral James Gambier's
James Gambier, 1st Baron Gambier
Admiral of the Fleet James Gambier, 1st Baron Gambier GCB was an admiral of the Royal Navy, who served as Governor of Newfoundland, and as a Lord of the Admiralty, but who gained notoriety for his actions at the Battle of the Basque Roads.-Early career:Gambier was born in New Providence, The...
fleet which returned to the Baltic to attack Copenhagen again in 1807
Battle of Copenhagen (1807)
The Second Battle of Copenhagen was a British preemptive attack on Copenhagen, targeting the civilian population in order to seize the Dano-Norwegian fleet and in turn originate the term to Copenhagenize.-Background:Despite the defeat and loss of many ships in the first Battle of Copenhagen in...
. Phillimore distinguished himself during the battle, particularly in an engagement at the end of August, when the Belette became becalmed off the Danish coast. She was attacked by 16 Danish gunboat
Gunboat
A gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies.-History:...
s, of which Phillimore managed to sink three before other British ships arrived and towed him clear. Gambier rewarded his courage by giving him the honour of carrying his despatches to the Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
, as a result of which he received a promotion to post captain on 13 October 1807.
Belette and the Baltic
Phillimore initially remained in command of the Belette, returning to the Baltic in late 1807. He brought the British ambassador, Lord HutchinsonJohn Hely-Hutchinson, 2nd Earl of Donoughmore
General John Hely-Hutchinson, 2nd Earl of Donoughmore GCB was an Anglo-Irish politician, hereditary peer and soldier.-Background:He was the son of John Hely-Hutchinson and the Baroness Donoughmore...
back to Britain in February 1808. At some point while sailing to Gothenburg
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area...
he had the misfortune to encounter the only two decker in the Danish Navy, which he escaped by sailing into shallower waters. Promotion eventually left him without a ship however, though he temporarily took over command of the 74-gun in June 1809 with the temporary absence of her captain, Graham Moore
Graham Moore
Admiral Sir Graham Moore, GCB, GCMG was a British sailor and a career officer in the Royal Navy. He was the younger brother of General Sir John Moore.-Naval career:...
. He took part in the Walcheren Campaign
Walcheren Campaign
The Walcheren Campaign was an unsuccessful British expedition to the Netherlands in 1809 intended to open another front in the Austrian Empire's struggle with France during the War of the Fifth Coalition. Around 40,000 soldiers, 15,000 horses together with field artillery and two siege trains...
until Moore's return to command in late 1809. Phillimore's next command was the nominally 64-gun , though she had been converted into a troopship
Troopship
A troopship is a ship used to carry soldiers, either in peacetime or wartime...
some years earlier and by the time Phillimore became her captain in June 1810, she only mounted 32 guns.
"No longer your affectionate friend"
This was to lead to a celebrated exchange of letters between Phillimore and the Navy BoardNavy Board
The Navy Board is today the body responsible for the day-to-day running of the British Royal Navy. Its composition is identical to that of the Admiralty Board of the Defence Council of the United Kingdom, except that it does not include any of Her Majesty's Ministers.From 1546 to 1831, the Navy...
on the subject of paint. With the Diadem now only mounting 32 guns, the Board directed that she should receive stores equivalent to a ship of this rating, despite her much larger size and complement, and despite Phillimore's protests. Consequently he only received money for enough paint to paint half his ship. Phillimore sent a pointed letter to the Board enquiring which half they wished him to paint, the starboard side or the larboard side. He then signed the letter "your affectionate friend". The Board admonished him for this, pointing out that the custom of signing "your affectionate friend" was one practised by its own members and was the address used from a superior officer to an inferior one. Phillimore acknowledged his mistake, signing himself "no longer your affectionate friend". The correspondence appears to have had its effect; the allowance was duly doubled. Phillimore spent his time in command of the Diadem carrying troops to and from the Iberian peninsula, supporting Arthur Wellesley's
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS , was an Irish-born British soldier and statesman, and one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century...
operations
Peninsular War
The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French and Spanish armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807. Then, in 1808, France turned on its...
there.
HMS Eurotas and the Clorinde
Brest, France
Brest is a city in the Finistère department in Brittany in northwestern France. Located in a sheltered position not far from the western tip of the Breton peninsula, and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an important harbour and the second French military port after Toulon...
and on 23 October Phillimore was present at the capture of the Dutch frigate Trave. In January 1814 was despatched to Lorient
Lorient
Lorient, or L'Orient, is a commune and a seaport in the Morbihan department in Brittany in north-western France.-History:At the beginning of the 17th century, merchants who were trading with India had established warehouses in Port-Louis...
, where three French frigates had been reported as preparing to put to sea. They escaped to sea under cover of night and heavy weather, and despite pursuing them for three days, Phillimore was eventually forced to return to Britain to re-provision. She returned to sea again, and on 25 February came across the French frigate Clorinde
French frigate Clorinde (1808)
The Clorinde was a 40-gun Pallas-class frigate of the French Navy, designed by Sané.From June 1809, she was stationed with the 16-gun Milan and the 38-gun Renommée. In September, she sailed with Renommée, Loire and Seine to Guadeloupe...
. A long and sustained battle was fought, which eventually left Eurotas totally dismasted, and with 20 of her men killed and 40 wounded, with Phillimore among the latter. Eurotass first lieutenant took over while Phillimore was carried below to be seen by the surgeon. A jury-rig was erected and the chase resumed during the night. The Clorinde had also been badly damaged during the engagement, losing 40 killed and 80 wounded, and was steadily being overtaken by the Eurotas, when two British ships came upon the scene, and . Dryad brought Clorinde to with a single shot and the Frenchman surrendered. In 1847 the Admiralty authorized the issuance of the Naval General Service Medal with clasp "EUROTAS 25 FEBY. 1814" to all still surviving members of Eurota's crew that had participated in the action.
Later service
Phillimore was nominated a Companion of the Bath on 4 June 1815, but his wounds prevented him from returning to active service for some years. He finally returned to sea with his appointment to command the yacht on 13 April 1820, which was then in service as the conveyance of Earl TalbotCharles Chetwynd-Talbot, 2nd Earl Talbot
Charles Chetwynd Chetwynd-Talbot, 2nd Earl Talbot KG, PC, FRS , styled Viscount Ingestre between 1784 and 1793, was a British politician. He served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland between 1817 and 1821....
, the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland was the British King's representative and head of the Irish executive during the Lordship of Ireland , the Kingdom of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
. Talbot knighted him for his services on 12 December 1821. Phillimore next received command of the 46-gun frigate in March 1823, and was sent to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
to convey a commission of political enquiry, and to the West Indies, and later on to Africa, South America and the Mediterranean. He made a large sum of money by returning with valuable cargoes to Britain in 1824, including $400,000 of specie and 300 bales of cochineal
Cochineal
The cochineal is a scale insect in the suborder Sternorrhyncha, from which the crimson-colour dye carmine is derived. A primarily sessile parasite native to tropical and subtropical South America and Mexico, this insect lives on cacti from the genus Opuntia, feeding on plant moisture and...
from Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
.
Assault on William James
While on leaveLeave (military)
In military, leave is a permission to be away from one's unit, either for a specified or unspecified period of time.The term AWOL, standing for absent without leave, is a term for desertion used in armed forces of many English speaking countries....
in Britain that year his attention was drawn to a passage recently published in William James's
William James (naval historian)
William M. James was a British lawyer turned naval historian who wrote important naval histories of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793-1815.-Career:...
Naval History of Great Britain, which described the battle between Eurotas and Clorinde. In it James had noted that the 24 pounders had not done as much as had 18 pounders in other actions, and that Eurotas had been in commission long enough for her crew 'to have been taught a few practical rules of gunnery'. A furious Phillimore considered this a slur on his character and took 48 hours leave to go up to London. He and a friend went to James's house and upon meeting him, Phillimore declared that the account of the battle was false. James defended his book, and harsh words were exchanged, which led to Phillimore thrashing James with his stick. The case was examined by a magistrate and Phillimore was forced to pay James £100 in damages.
The bishop of St Michael's
Phillimore continued to serve in the navy, carrying troops of the Royal African Corps to Cape Coast CastleCape Coast Castle
Cape Coast Castle is a fortification in Ghana built by Swedish traders. The first timber construction on the site was erected in 1653 for the Swedish Africa Company and named Carolusborg after King Charles X of Sweden. It was later rebuilt in stone....
during the First Anglo-Ashanti War in 1824. On the return voyage he stopped to re-provision at St Michael's
São Miguel Island
São Miguel Island , nicknamed "The Green Island", is the largest and most populous island in the Portuguese Azores archipelago. The island covers and has around 140,000 inhabitants, 45,000 of these people located in the largest city in the archipelago: Ponta Delgada.-History:In 1427, São Miguel...
in August. The English residents of the settlement asked Phillimore to have the burial ground there consecrated, a task he delegated to his ship's chaplain, to be carried out the next day at noon. The chaplain pointed out that consecrations could only be carried out by a bishop. Phillimore responded by appointing the chaplain 'acting-bishop of St Michael's', and the consecration was duly carried out.
Defying the Spanish
The Thetis was in the Mediterranean the following year, transporting the English ambassador to NaplesKingdom of Naples
The Kingdom of Naples, comprising the southern part of the Italian peninsula, was the remainder of the old Kingdom of Sicily after secession of the island of Sicily as a result of the Sicilian Vespers rebellion of 1282. Known to contemporaries as the Kingdom of Sicily, it is dubbed Kingdom of...
to his post. On the return voyage she put into Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
, shortly after a gale had driven 17 British merchants ashore at the head of the bay
Bay of Gibraltar
The Bay of Gibraltar is a bay at the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula. It is around long by wide, covering an area of some , with a depth of up to in the centre of the bay...
. The Spanish governor of the area claimed jurisdiction and the right of salvage over them, but Phillimore took his boats out and drove off the Spanish forces that had attempted to take possession over them. This precedent helped to define the rights and jurisdictions of the British forces in Gibraltar and Phillimore received letters of thanks from the merchants at Gibraltar, and from Lloyd's of London
Lloyd's of London
Lloyd's, also known as Lloyd's of London, is a British insurance and reinsurance market. It serves as a partially mutualised marketplace where multiple financial backers, underwriters, or members, whether individuals or corporations, come together to pool and spread risk...
for saving the cargoes.
Naval reform
Phillimore also embarked on a significant piece of naval reform, when after consulting with his men, he reduced their rum ration by half, with the money saved being paid into their wages. The positive effects of this were so noticeable that this reform was soon adopted throughout the Navy. Another improvement Phillmore introduced was the paying of a monthly advance in wages.The Thetis was paid off in November 1826, and Phillmore never again served at sea. He was however appointed a naval aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to King William IV
William IV of the United Kingdom
William IV was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until his death...
in September 1831, a position he retained under Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
.
Family life
John Phillimore married Catherine Harriet on 17 February 1830, when he was 49. The couple settled near MaidenheadMaidenhead
Maidenhead is a town and unparished area within the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, in Berkshire, England. It lies on the River Thames and is situated west of Charing Cross in London.-History:...
and had two sons and four daughters. His youngest son, Henry Bourchier Phillimore, became an admiral. John Phillimore died on 21 March 1840 at the age of 59, and was buried at Bray
Bray, Berkshire
Bray, sometimes known as Bray on Thames, is a village and civil parish in the English county of Berkshire. It stands on the banks of the River Thames, just south-east of Maidenhead. It is famous as the village mentioned in the song The Vicar of Bray...
. His wife died a few months later and was buried beside him.