Inglorious End for Tomoraire Captain

As the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar nears (21st October) Gibraltar Magazine is taking a look at some of the major participants in that epic encounter. Previously we wrote of Nelson's captains Berry, Hardy, Blackwood, Duff, Cumby and Cook. This month we examine the career of Eliab Harvey, Captain of the 'Fighting' Temeraire.

Of all the ships that participated in the Battle of Trafalgar the Victory and the Temeraire are the most fa mous, The Victory for being Nel son's flagship and first into the fray, the Temeraire because it was immor talized in the beautiful painting by J.M.W. Turner, The Fi;^hting Temeraire.

Turner chose to paint the scene of the Temeraire. being towed by a steamship to the breaker's yard in protest against the destruction of a fine ship which had served so val iantly at Trafalgar. It had been the Temeraire that wassecond in the line of battle at Trafalgar and it was the 98-gun Temeraire, with two French prizes alongside, that continued to exchange broadsides with the 136gun Santissima Trinidad.

The captain of the Temeraire that day was Eliab Harvey.He was bom in Chigwell Essex in 1758, the sec ond son of the Member of Parlia ment William Harvey.

He entered the service in 1771 and served as a Midshipman in the Eagle during the American War of Independence. He was appointed Lieutenant in 1779, made Com mander in 1782 and Captain in 1783. Along with his naval career Harvey was heavily involved in politics and served as an MP from 1780-81 and 1802-12.

Eliab Harvey was a man of cour age and he distinguished himselfas Captain ofthe Santa Margarita at the capture of Martinique in 1794. The same year he destroyed two cor vettes and the French frigate La Felicite. He was given command of the Temcraire in 1803.

Before Harvey became her cap tain the Temeraire's spirit was not a very 'fighting' one. Launched at Chatham in 1798 (named for a French prize captured in 1759)she spent her first three years as flag ship of the Channel Fleet. In 1801 at Bantry Bay her crew, who had been confined aboard for years, mutinied in protest at being sent to the West Indies where thousands of sailors died every year from yellow fever. Marines and officers put down the revolt and twenty muti neers were arrested. The Temeraire returned to Spithead where eight een of the unfortunate rebels were hanged from the yardarm.

With the appointment of Harvey life on the Temeraire improved dra matically.The efficiency of the crew became such that Nelson assigned her second place in the line at Tra falgar. Later, Nelson, at the urging several senior captains, agreed to let the Temeraire lead the way into battle. But it is more likely that the 'history minded' Admiral never had any intention of letting another ship go first into battle and had agreed only to placate his officers.

Captain Blackwood of the frigate Euryalus was in charge of signals and as the battle was about to com mence he hailed the Temeraire to go ahead. To Blackwood's surprise, however,the swifter Victory refused to let her pass. When Harvey did manage to get the Temeraire along side, Nelson shouted, "I'll thank gar, the Fougueux and the Redoubt able. For his efforts Harvey received the thanks of Parliament, was awarded a gold medal and a sword of honour and was promoted to Rear-Admiral.

Unfortunately Harvey's career did not end with distincition. He enjoyed a drink and was a notori ous gamblec He once avoided los ing his entire estate worth 100,000 pounds (a vast fortune then) only due to the generosity of his oppo nent who allowed him one more throw of the dice. Harvey won and recouped 90,000 pounds.

Harvey's moral laxity didn't im pede his career until he came un der the command of Admiral Lord James Gambler who has been de scribed as an 'evangelist with a cocked hat.' It was said that Gambler was more interested in the

During the blockade of French ports in 1809 Harvey criticized Gambler's performance and ques tioned his bravery. In anger,and in front of other officers,he let go with a verbal barrage that would lead to his court-martial.

"This is not the first time I have been lightly treated and that my services have been attended to in the way they deserved because I am no canting Methodist,no hypocrite, no psalm-singer, and do not cheat old women out of their estates by hypocrisy and canting."

Gambler had no choice but to order Harvey back to England where he was court-martialed and dismissed from the service. There were misgivings, he was after all, the same Eliab Harvey who had commanded the Temeraire at Trafal gar. A year later in recognition of his "long and meritorious service" Harvey was reinstated in rank and seniority. Although the Admiralty never employed him again he was made a full Admiral in 1819. He died in 1830.

The'Fighting' Temeraire also suf fered an inglorious end.She served as a prison ship from 1812-1815 and a recepdon ship until 1836.She was broken up in 1838, her last sad voy age, towed by a steam tug to Rotherhide, preserved forever in the wonderful painting by Turner.

*The Temeraire suffered the second most deaths amonst British ships at Trafalgar,47, equal with the Royal Soverign and behind only the Victory, 57. Another 76 creivwere injuredfor a total of 123 casualties, sixth most in the Brit is ir fleet.

He once avoided losing his entire estate worth 100.000 pounds (a vast fortune then)only due to the generosity of his opponent who alfowed him one more throw of the dice

As mentioned earlier the Temeraire salvation of his crews than going into battle. Gambler regarded Harvey as a heathen beyond salva tion. Harvey considered Gambler to be a pious humbug.