Sir John Knight

Notes on Officer

Admiral of the White; Knight Commander of the most honourable Military Order of the Bath.

This officer embarked with his father, the late Rear-Admiral Knight, at a very early period of life, and served in the Tartar frigate on the expeditions against Cancalle, Cherbourg, &c.; and was with the squadron under Lord Anson, which escorted his late Majesty’s consort to England, in the month of September, 1761. During the long calm that preceded the war with the colonies, we find him assisting in the maritime survey of the coast of North America.

In 1775, Mr. Knight was second Lieutenant of the Falcon, commanded by Captain John Linzee, in which sloop he arrived at Boston three days previous to the fight at Lexington. The Falcon was one of the vessels that covered the attack on Bunker’s Hill; some time after which event, Lieutenant Knight had the misfortune to fall into the hands of the enemy, when attempting to bring off an American vessel that had been driven ashore.

After a residence of several months, on parole, at Northampton and South Hadley, in the province of Massachusetts, an exchange of prisoners took place, about Dec. 1776, and our officer once more returned to the duties of his profession. In Feb. 1777, he was appointed by Lord Howe to the command of the Haerlem, of 12 guns and 65 men; and his judicious and spirited conduct, in entering an enemy’s port, and taking from thence several small vessels, was so much approved, that that nobleman directed his personal share of the prize-money to be distributed among the immediate captors.

In the month of July, 1778, the Haerlem fell in with the French fleet under Count d’Estaing, and narrowly escaped capture, having received several shot from a 50-gun ship, then in chace of a British frigate. Lieutenant Knight immediately gave intelligence of his falling in with the enemy to the Commander-in-Chief; and was thereupon removed into the Eagle, of 64 guns, bearing the flag of Lord Howe, with whom he returned to England in the ensuing October. Towards the conclusion of the American war, Mr. Knight had the good fortune to be appointed First Lieutenant of the Barfleur, of 98 guns, the flag ship of Rear-Admiral Sir Samuel Hood, on the Leeward Island station; and to that excellent officer he owed his advancement to the rank of Post-Captain, Sept. 21, 1781; on which occasion he was appointed to the Shrewsbury, of 74 guns, her former commander, Captain Mark Robinson, having lost a leg in the action with the French fleet, off the Chesapeak, on the 5th of the same month. Our officer remained with Sir Samuel Hood, and was present at all his brilliant achievements in the years 1781 and 1782. In such estimation were Captain Knight’s abilities at this time held, that, in the hour of battle with M. de Grasse’s superior fleet at St. Kitt’s, the Rear-Admiral thought it proper to remove him from the Shrewsbury, to command his own flag-ship, the Barfleur.

On the evening of the memorable 12th April, 1782, Captain Knight received, and presented to his Admiral, the sword of Count de Grasse, and those of all the surviving officers of the Ville de Paris. A few days after the action, Sir Samuel Hood was detached in pursuit of the beaten enemy; and on the 19th came up with, and captured, two ships of 64 guns each, together with a frigate and a sloop.

For six months preceding the peace of 1783, Prince William Henry performed the duty of a Midshipman in the Barfleur, a portion of each day being allotted, by the Admiral’s desire, for a particular part of naval education and study under Captain Knight, from whose tuition H.R.H. derived acknowledged advantage.

When the account of a cessation of hostilities had reached Jamaica, in March 1783, Lord Hood permitted the Prince to visit Cape Francois, and the Havannah. H.R.H. was received at both places with every mark of distinction and politeness. After which, his Lordship returned to England with the squadron under his command, and arrived at Spithead on the 26th June, in the same year.

It being a period of profound peace, Captain Knight remained without any appointment until the year 1790; when, on the appearance of a rupture with Spain, Lord Hood again hoisted his flag, and our officer received the flattering compliment of being appointed his Lordship’s Captain, in the Victory of 100 guns, which he continued to command until the final adjustment of the dispute with Spain, and that which subsequently took place between Great Britain and Russia, in 1791.

On the commencement of the war with the French republic, Lord Hood was immediately called forth to command a powerful fleet, destined for the Mediterranean; and Captain Knight was again selected to accompany him. In the fatigues of service at Toulon and Corsica, he bore his full share, and received due encomiums from his noble patron, with whom he returned to England in the month of December, 1794. In the month of May following, his Lordship had prepared to resume his command, when most unexpectedly he was ordered to strike his flag, which was never after hoisted. Captain Knight, however, continued to command the Victory as a private ship, and on the 25th May, sailed from St. Helen’s in company with a squadron commanded by Rear-Admiral Mann, and the trade for the Mediterranean.

In the partial action which took place between the British and French fleets, July 13, 1795, the Victory particularly distinguished herself, as will appear by the following extract from Admiral Hotham’s official despatches. “If the result of the day has not been so completely satisfactory as the commencement promised, it is my duty to state, that no exertions could be more unanimous than those of the fleet under my command; and it would be injustice to the general merit of all, to select individual instances of commendation, had not superiority of sailing placed some of the ships in an advanced situation, of which they availed themselves in the most distinguished and honourable manner; and amongst the number was the Victory, having Rear-Admiral Mann on board, who had shifted his flag to that ship upon this occasion.”

In the month of December following, Sir John Jervis having hoisted his flag on board the Victory, Captain Knight returned to England across the continent; and on his arrival was appointed to command the Montagu, of 74 guns, belonging to the North Sea fleet. Nothing material occurred until the spring of 1797; when it was discovered that the mutiny at Spithead had spread its deleterious contagion through the ships employed under the orders of Admiral Duncan; for on that officer putting to sea, to cruize off the back of Yarmouth Sands, the Montagu and Nassau refused to weigh their anchors, under pretence of being in the course of payment. This sad example was followed in a few days by the rest of the squadron, leaving with the Admiral only the Venerable and Adamant. The mutinous ships proceeded to the Nore, where they joined others likewise in a state of insubordination. The whole rebel force at that anchorage on the 6th June, consisted of the Sandwich, of 90 guns; the Montagu, 74; ten 64’s; two 50’s; five frigates, and seven smaller vessels; and for some time the most fatal result was apprehended from this lawless combination. Happily, however, the firmness evinced by the constituted authorities removed the impending evil; and the spirited and glorious conduct of these misguided men, in the subsequent action with the Dutch fleet, an account of which will be found in our memoir of Admiral Sir Henry Trollope, completely wiped away the disgrace incurred by their late proceedings.

Subsequently to the battle of the 11th October, our officer enjoyed a separate command on the coast of Ireland; after which he served in the Channel Fleet, and on the Mediterranean station, under Lords St. Vincent, Bridport, and Keith. In August, 1799, Captain Knight returned from the latter station, and for some time commanded the advanced squadron before Brest. On this service the Montagu’s boats made more than one successful attack on the enemy’s coasting vessels.

January 1st, 1801, Captain Knight was advanced to the rank of Rear-Admiral of the Blue; but did not serve again during the remainder of the war.

In the month of April 1805, the Rear-Admiral’s flag was flying on board the Queen, of 98 guns, under orders for the Mediterranean; and in the summer of that year he succeeded to the command at Gibraltar, on the resignation of Sir Richard Bickerton; and hoisted his flag on board the Guerrier guard-ship, at that place.

Our officer was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral, Nov. 9, 1805; Admiral, Dec. 4, 1813; and nominated a K.C.B., Jan. 2, 1815. He married a daughter of the late Hon. Col. Peter Fry, who was Judge of the Superior Court of Massachussets, previous to the revolt of the colonies. By that lady he has had a numerous family. Two of his sons are officers in the navy; several of his daughters are married.

To Sir John Knight’s peculiar abilities, in addition to his professional talents, the public are much indebted for his nautical observations, in many valuable charts of America, the Mediterranean, British Channel, &c.