Michael Fitton
Encyclopedia
Michael Fitton was an English lieutenant in the Royal Navy
. During his career he made some 30 to 40 captures of enemy, chiefly French, vessels. Despite his notable victory over the French privateer Superbe in 1806, for which he received various honours, including a medal, and his earlier successes, Fitton never received a promotion beyond the rank of lieutenant. Not only did he lack a powerful patron but there is some suggestion that he may, by injudicious conduct early in his naval career, have made a powerful enemy. He died in 1852.
.
On 10 September Vestal gave chase to and captured the Mercury packet, having on board Henry Laurens
, previously president of Congress, on his way to the Netherlands as ambassador of the revolted American colonies. During the chase young Fitton, being on the foretop-gallant yard, hailed the deck to say that there was a man overboard from the enemy. Vestal sent a boat to pick him up, when the object was found to be a bag of papers, which, being insufficiently weighted, was recovered. On examination these papers were found to compromise the Dutch government, and led to a declaration of war against the Netherlands a few months afterwards. Fitton continued with Captain Keppel during the war in different ships, and as midshipman on was present at the relief of Gibraltar
in 1782.
In 1800 Fitton commanded the 8-gun schooner Active. She assisted at the capitulation of Curaçao
on 13 September 1800.
As captain of the schooner Ferret he cruised the Mona Passage
, in company with the cutter Sparrow, commanded by Mr. Whylie.
The two accidentally separated for a few days. On rejoining, Fitton invited Whylie by signal to come to breakfast, and while waiting caught a large shark that was under the stern. In its stomach was found a packet of papers relating to an American brig Nancy. When Whylie came on board, he mentioned that he had detained an American brig called the Nancy. Fitton then said that he had her papers. 'Papers?' answered Whylie; 'why, I sealed up her papers and sent them in with her.' 'Just so,' replied Fitton; 'those were her false papers; here are her real ones.' And so it proved. The papers were lodged in the Admiralty Court at Port Royal, and by them the brig was condemned. The shark's jaws were set up on shore, with the inscription, 'Lieut. Fitton recommends these jaws for a collar for neutrals to swear through.' The papers were preserved in the museum of the Royal United Service Institution.
Fitton's whole service during the three years in which he commanded the Abergavennys tenders was marked by daring and good fortune. Several privateers of superior force he captured or beat off. One, which he drove ashore, he boarded by swimming, himself and the greater part of his men plunging into the sea with their swords in their mouths.
in 1804, being the only officer in the squadron who was acquainted with the island, he piloted the ships in, and had virtually the direction of the landing. On the failure of the expedition the Gipsy was sent to the admiral with despatches, and Fitton, in accordance with the senior officer's recommendation, was promoted to lieutenant. In the Gipsy and afterwards in the , a similar schooner, he continued to wage war on the enemy's privateers.
On 26 October 1806, after a weary chase of sixty-seven hours, Pitt drove on shore and captured the French privateer Superbe, a French ship of superior force, with on board a list of captures that showed a value of £147,000. The captain of the Superbe afterwards equipped a brig which he named Revanche de la Superbe, and sent an invitation to Fitton to meet him at a place named; however, before the message arrived Fitton had been superseded as captain by the 17-year old Thomas John Cochrane
, son of admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane, who was then commanding officer of the Leeward Islands station. Fitton had the thanks of the Admiralty, a sword valued at £50 from the Patriotic Society, and his share of the prize-money, but had no command.
Fitton remained unemployed till 1811, when he was appointed to the command of the gunbrig for the Channel. In February 1812 he took command of the gunbrig for service in the North Sea and Baltic. Cracker was sold for breaking up in November 1815.
, and in 1835 was admitted to Greenwich Hospital
. He stayed there until his death, which took place at Peckham on 31 December 1852.
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...
. During his career he made some 30 to 40 captures of enemy, chiefly French, vessels. Despite his notable victory over the French privateer Superbe in 1806, for which he received various honours, including a medal, and his earlier successes, Fitton never received a promotion beyond the rank of lieutenant. Not only did he lack a powerful patron but there is some suggestion that he may, by injudicious conduct early in his naval career, have made a powerful enemy. He died in 1852.
Naval career
He entered the navy in June 1780, on board , with Captain George KeppelGeorge Keppel
Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. George Keppel, MVO was a British soldier and the husband of Alice Keppel, the mistress of King Edward VII....
.
On 10 September Vestal gave chase to and captured the Mercury packet, having on board Henry Laurens
Henry Laurens
Henry Laurens was an American merchant and rice planter from South Carolina who became a political leader during the Revolutionary War. A delegate to the Second Continental Congress, Laurens succeeded John Hancock as President of the Congress...
, previously president of Congress, on his way to the Netherlands as ambassador of the revolted American colonies. During the chase young Fitton, being on the foretop-gallant yard, hailed the deck to say that there was a man overboard from the enemy. Vestal sent a boat to pick him up, when the object was found to be a bag of papers, which, being insufficiently weighted, was recovered. On examination these papers were found to compromise the Dutch government, and led to a declaration of war against the Netherlands a few months afterwards. Fitton continued with Captain Keppel during the war in different ships, and as midshipman on was present at the relief of 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...
in 1782.
French Revolutionary Wars
In 1793 he was again with Captain Keppel as a master's mate in the 74-gun third rate . In 1796 he was appointed purser of the sloop in the West Indies, and in 1799 was acting lieutenant of the 54-gun fourth rate on the Jamaica station, from which he was detached in command of one or another of her tenders.In 1800 Fitton commanded the 8-gun schooner Active. She assisted at the capitulation of Curaçao
Curaçao
Curaçao is an island in the southern Caribbean Sea, off the Venezuelan coast. The Country of Curaçao , which includes the main island plus the small, uninhabited island of Klein Curaçao , is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
on 13 September 1800.
As captain of the schooner Ferret he cruised the Mona Passage
Mona Passage
The Mona Passage is a strait that separates the islands of Hispaniola and Puerto Rico. The Mona Passage connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Caribbean Sea, and is an important shipping route between the Atlantic and the Panama Canal....
, in company with the cutter Sparrow, commanded by Mr. Whylie.
The two accidentally separated for a few days. On rejoining, Fitton invited Whylie by signal to come to breakfast, and while waiting caught a large shark that was under the stern. In its stomach was found a packet of papers relating to an American brig Nancy. When Whylie came on board, he mentioned that he had detained an American brig called the Nancy. Fitton then said that he had her papers. 'Papers?' answered Whylie; 'why, I sealed up her papers and sent them in with her.' 'Just so,' replied Fitton; 'those were her false papers; here are her real ones.' And so it proved. The papers were lodged in the Admiralty Court at Port Royal, and by them the brig was condemned. The shark's jaws were set up on shore, with the inscription, 'Lieut. Fitton recommends these jaws for a collar for neutrals to swear through.' The papers were preserved in the museum of the Royal United Service Institution.
Fitton's whole service during the three years in which he commanded the Abergavennys tenders was marked by daring and good fortune. Several privateers of superior force he captured or beat off. One, which he drove ashore, he boarded by swimming, himself and the greater part of his men plunging into the sea with their swords in their mouths.
Napoleonic Wars
When war with France resumed in 1803, Fitton was again sent out to Abergavenny and appointed to command her tender, the schooner . At the attack on CuraçaoCuraçao
Curaçao is an island in the southern Caribbean Sea, off the Venezuelan coast. The Country of Curaçao , which includes the main island plus the small, uninhabited island of Klein Curaçao , is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
in 1804, being the only officer in the squadron who was acquainted with the island, he piloted the ships in, and had virtually the direction of the landing. On the failure of the expedition the Gipsy was sent to the admiral with despatches, and Fitton, in accordance with the senior officer's recommendation, was promoted to lieutenant. In the Gipsy and afterwards in the , a similar schooner, he continued to wage war on the enemy's privateers.
On 26 October 1806, after a weary chase of sixty-seven hours, Pitt drove on shore and captured the French privateer Superbe, a French ship of superior force, with on board a list of captures that showed a value of £147,000. The captain of the Superbe afterwards equipped a brig which he named Revanche de la Superbe, and sent an invitation to Fitton to meet him at a place named; however, before the message arrived Fitton had been superseded as captain by the 17-year old Thomas John Cochrane
Thomas John Cochrane
Admiral of the Fleet Sir Thomas John Cochrane GCB was an English naval officer and colonial governor.-Naval career:...
, son of admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane, who was then commanding officer of the Leeward Islands station. Fitton had the thanks of the Admiralty, a sword valued at £50 from the Patriotic Society, and his share of the prize-money, but had no command.
Fitton remained unemployed till 1811, when he was appointed to the command of the gunbrig for the Channel. In February 1812 he took command of the gunbrig for service in the North Sea and Baltic. Cracker was sold for breaking up in November 1815.
Post-war
In 1831 he was appointed a lieutenant of the ordinary at PlymouthPlymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, and in 1835 was admitted to Greenwich Hospital
Greenwich Hospital
Greenwich Hospital can refer to:*Greenwich Hospital , USA*Greenwich Hospital , UK...
. He stayed there until his death, which took place at Peckham on 31 December 1852.