Miller Worsley
Encyclopedia
Miller Worsley was an officer in the Royal Navy
, best known for playing a major part in the Engagement on Lake Huron
in the Anglo-American War of 1812
.
He was the son of a clergyman, and first joined the Navy as a volunteer in 1803 and became a Midshipman
in 1805. He was present at the Battle of Trafalgar
, aboard HMS Swiftsure
. Although he passed the examination for Lieutenant in 1810, owing to the large numbers of officers in the Royal Navy at the time he was still a Midshipman when drafted from Bermuda
in 1812 with several other officers to serve in Canada
. He was promoted Lieutenant on 12 July, 1813 and served in the Raid on Fort Oswego
in the following year.
He was then appointed to command the Royal Naval detachment on Lake Huron
, succeeding Lieutenant Newdigate Poyntz, who had quarreled with the Army Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Robert McDouall
, over the degree to which the Naval personnel should be subject to McDouall's orders.
Worsley made his way overland to the base at Nottawasaga Bay
in July and took command of the only naval vessel on the lake, the schooner Nancy. Before he could sail to Fort Mackinac
with urgently needed rations and powder, he was warned that an American force was lying in wait. He attempted to conceal the Nancy and constructed a blockhouse to defend the schooner, but the Americans discovered the Nancy, and landed a superior force supported by artillery. Worsley (or American shells) destroyed the schooner. Worsley withdrew his small party unmolested.
After the Americans withdrew, he then proceeded by boat and canoe to Fort Mackinac
, at one point passing only a few yards from an American gunboat. He obtained reinforcements of marines from Lieutenant Colonel McDouall, and captured the two American naval vessels on the lake, securing British supremacy there for the remainder of the war.
Worsley fell ill in October, and saw no further active service, although he was appointed half-pay Commander
on 13 July, 1815.
After the war, he returned to his parental home on the Isle of Wight
, and married in 1820. In 1832 he became an Inspecting Commander in the Coastguard. He left in 1834 and died the next year.
Worsley Street in the City of Barrie, Ontario, is named after him; this street crosses Poyntz Street at the southeast corner of the Barrie courthouse.
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...
, best known for playing a major part in the Engagement on Lake Huron
Engagement on Lake Huron
The series of minor Engagements on Lake Huron left the British in control of the lake and thus of the Old Northwest for the latter stages of the War of 1812.-Background:...
in the Anglo-American War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
.
He was the son of a clergyman, and first joined the Navy as a volunteer in 1803 and became 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...
in 1805. He was present at the Battle of Trafalgar
Battle of Trafalgar
The Battle of Trafalgar was a sea battle fought between the British Royal Navy and the combined fleets of the French Navy and Spanish Navy, during the War of the Third Coalition of the Napoleonic Wars ....
, aboard HMS Swiftsure
HMS Swiftsure (1804)
HMS Swiftsure was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched from Bucklers Hard on 23 July 1804. She fought at Trafalgar.The French 74-gun ship Swiftsure also took part in the battle...
. Although he passed the examination for Lieutenant in 1810, owing to the large numbers of officers in the Royal Navy at the time he was still a Midshipman when drafted from Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
in 1812 with several other officers to serve in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He was promoted Lieutenant on 12 July, 1813 and served in the Raid on Fort Oswego
Raid on Fort Oswego
The Battle of Fort Oswego was a partially successful British raid on an American fort and village in May 1814 during the War of 1812.-Background:...
in the following year.
He was then appointed to command the Royal Naval detachment on Lake Huron
Lake Huron
Lake Huron is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrologically, it comprises the larger portion of Lake Michigan-Huron. It is bounded on the east by the Canadian province of Ontario and on the west by the state of Michigan in the United States...
, succeeding Lieutenant Newdigate Poyntz, who had quarreled with the Army Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Robert McDouall
Robert McDouall
Major-General Robert McDouall was a Scottish-born officer in the British Army, who saw much action during the Napoleonic Wars and the Anglo-American War of 1812...
, over the degree to which the Naval personnel should be subject to McDouall's orders.
Worsley made his way overland to the base at Nottawasaga Bay
Nottawasaga Bay
Nottawasaga Bay is a bay of Lake Huron in Ontario, at the southernmost end of Georgian Bay. Communities on Nottawasaga Bay include Meaford, Collingwood and Wasaga Beach....
in July and took command of the only naval vessel on the lake, the schooner Nancy. Before he could sail to Fort Mackinac
Fort Mackinac
Fort Mackinac is a former American military outpost garrisoned from the late 18th century to the late 19th century near Michilimackinac, Michigan, on Mackinac Island...
with urgently needed rations and powder, he was warned that an American force was lying in wait. He attempted to conceal the Nancy and constructed a blockhouse to defend the schooner, but the Americans discovered the Nancy, and landed a superior force supported by artillery. Worsley (or American shells) destroyed the schooner. Worsley withdrew his small party unmolested.
After the Americans withdrew, he then proceeded by boat and canoe to Fort Mackinac
Fort Mackinac
Fort Mackinac is a former American military outpost garrisoned from the late 18th century to the late 19th century near Michilimackinac, Michigan, on Mackinac Island...
, at one point passing only a few yards from an American gunboat. He obtained reinforcements of marines from Lieutenant Colonel McDouall, and captured the two American naval vessels on the lake, securing British supremacy there for the remainder of the war.
Worsley fell ill in October, and saw no further active service, although he was appointed half-pay Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
on 13 July, 1815.
After the war, he returned to his parental home on the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
, and married in 1820. In 1832 he became an Inspecting Commander in the Coastguard. He left in 1834 and died the next year.
Worsley Street in the City of Barrie, Ontario, is named after him; this street crosses Poyntz Street at the southeast corner of the Barrie courthouse.