John Fawler

Posted by Albert Parker on Monday 22nd of November 2021 22:18

Note that the /Deptford/ that Fawler commanded with the rank of commander was an armed, purpose-built transport. (4 × 12, 16 × 9, 4 × 6, 16 × ½ [swivels]) That there is no record of his getting a lieutenant's billet in the great expansion of the navy beginning in 1739 does not speak well for his reputation. Command of a transport in wartime was probably something of a dead-end position. The previous captain of /Stirling Castle/ had been ordered home to be tried by court-martial for acting wisely at the Battle of Toulon (Feb. 1744), with many other captains in the Mediterranean fleet who had been present at that action. Admiral Rowley might have run out of commanders of unrated warships like bombs and fireships or lieutenants from his flagship, /Neptune/, to fill the resulting vacancies.

Posted by Albert Parker on Saturday 11th of August 2018 05:07

Fawler was court-martialed for misconduct after capture of French frigate in private service Volage (although told by the crew that other ships of the raiding squadron were in the vicinity, he took no precautions, then cut the tow line when they showed up, abandoning the prize crew to capture by the French). Sentenced to me mulcted (fined) 1 year's pay.