.
BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR
OF THE LATE
CAPTAIN GEORGE DUFF,
WHO FELL IN THE ACTION OFF TRAFALGAR,
===============
------------- MY SON, .AVENGE MY DEATH!
AND, 0N THAT OCEAN WHERE THY FATHER LIES,
PROVE THYSELF WORTHY OF TRAFALGAR'S DAY.
THIS Officer, born in 1764,
was the son of the late James Duff, Esq. [James Duff 1729 - 1804, solicitor and sherriff clerk of Banff] of Banff, a younger brother of the family of Hatton, in the
County of Aberdeen, and nearly related to the Earl of Fife. His mother was a daughter of
Mr. Skene, of Rubislaw, in the same county, an amiable woman, of delicate health, who died
six weeks after she had brought this son into the world.
Few persons, whose
instinctive genius point to a particular profession, have ever shown a more early
predilection than the subject of this memoir did, for the Navy. When only a boy, he in
hours of play was always found, either among the shipping in the harbour of Banff[1], ahout half a mile from the town, or in boats on the Doveran,
which skirts its lower streets, and runs into the sea, near to which was his father's
house. As a boy he was sprightly, active, and enterprising; and so bent towards' the Navy,
that seeing his father was averse from his going to sea, he endeavoured, whcn about nine
years of age, to escape; by concealing himself on board a small merchant vessel, in which
he actually sailed to a neighbouring port. The Master, upon finding him on hoard, sent him
back to his father, who then became sensible that his son's inclination could not be
counteracted, and wisely agreed to his going into the Royal Navy. He had been educated at
home by a private tutor, who was now directed to turn the whole attention of his pupil
towards studies most connected with his intended profession; and he was immediately rated
in a ship of war, and two years afterwards was sent to join that experienced and dand
distinguished officer, his grand-uncIe, Commodore (afterwards Admiral) Robert Duff[2], who commanded at Gibraltar, with his flag on board tbe Panther,
of 60 guns, in September, 1777. It is to be regretted that we cannot trace this zealous
and active youth throughout the first period of his interesting career. He was always
remarkably modest and reserved in whatever regarded himself; but we have heard him
mention, when asked, in how many battles he had fought? that he had been in thirteen
engagements before he was sixteen years of age. This was during the American war, in the
Mediterranean, and in the West Indies; and we know, that in consequence of his
gallant services, he was at that early age made a Lieutenant. He was at the taking of the
Spanish Admiral Langara, and his squadron of five sail of the line, off Cadiz, in the
beginning of 1780, and went from thence with Sir George Rodney's fleet to the West Indies.
Mr. Duff was probably at that time a Lieutenant in the Montalgu, of 74 guns, for in
October, thatyear, he served in her when she was blown out of St. Lucia in the great
hurricane, totally dismasted, thrown upon her beam ends, and in the greatest danger of
being lost. Upon that occasion his manly exertions were said to have been very
conspicuous, and by the falling of one of the masts he unfortunately got a contusion on
his right leg, which was healed with great difficulty, and was oftcn troublesome to him
during the rest of his life, particularly in tropical climates.
The Montagu having
miraculously outlived the hurricane, was rigged with jury-masts, and got back with great
difficulty to St. Lucia. She was there refitted, and Lieutenant Duff continued to serve in
her, in the various encounters which our fleet had with the French till the glorious 12th
of ApriI, 1782; when the Count de Grasse, their Commander in Chief, in the Ville de Paris,
of 110 guns, the largest ship in the world, and four other ships of the line, were taken
and brought to Jamaica by our victorious fleet.
Lieutenant Duff, some time
after his arrival in the harhour of Port Royal, and as soon as his duty would permit,
knowing that Captain Dirom was in that island, inquired for, and visited him at Spanish
town: the Captain was at that time Adjutant General in Jamaica; and although he could have
no idea, that in the course of ten years they should become so nearly connected, he had
then a great regard for Lieutenant Duff whom he had known from childhood. After presenting
his friend to Major General Archibald Campbell, the Governor, and enforcing the
professional merit of the young hero; the General had the goodness to introduce him to Sir
George Rodney, then on a visit at his country house, near Spanish town. Sir George
received the nephew of his friend Admiral Duff in the most favourable manner, and upon
knowing his service, put him on his list for promotion. This introduction to the Commander
in Chief, which to an ardent and aspiring mind seemed so promising of success, did not
avail Lieutenant Duff; as Sir George soon afterwards quitted his command and returned
home: having upon a change of Ministry been unfortunately recalled, before the news of his
splendid victory had reached England.
Although disappointed,
during the American war, in his well founded hopes of promotion, Lieutenant Duff
persevered in his profession, and continued upon foreign service. The Camilla sloop of
war, commanded by Captain Hutt, in which Mr. Duff was first Lieutenant, being ordered in
June 1784 to take home General Campbell, his family and suite; the General was enabled,
during the voyage, to observe how deserving our hero was of the notice which he had taken
of him in Jamaica; and the kind attentions which the Lieutenant showed to the General's
family, and in particular to his friend Captain Dirom, more than amply repayed the
civilities which the former had met with from them on shore. The Camilla reached
Portsmouth in six weeks, and soon afterwards returned to Jamaica, where Lieutenant Duff
served in different ships. He was first Lieutenant of the Europa, of 50 guns, when Captain
(now Rear-Admiral) Vashon was appointed to that ship; who found her crew in so excellent a
state of discipline as gained Lieutenant Duff the esteem both of his Captain, and of
Commodore (now Admiral Lord) Gardner, who at that time commanded upon the Jamaica station.
So long a period of service
in the West Indies, during which Lieutenant Duff was often obliged to subsist chiefly on
salted provisions, at length affected his health, and particularly the wound in his leg,
which broke out, and had a very alarming appearance: insomuch, that in 1787 it became
absolutely necessary for him to return to England. On his arrival there, be proceeded to
Scotland by sea, to his father at Banff; where his native air, a change of diet, and the
society of friends to whom he was warmly attached, soon effected the restoration of his
health.
In 1790, Lieutenant Duff, then employed upon the home service, was recommended by the Duke and Duchess of Gordon in the handsomest and strongest manner, to the protection of the Right Hon. Henry Dundas, Minister for Scotland, the liberal patron of merit. Mr. Dundas, since created Viscount Melville, then filled the office of Treasurer of the Navy, and upon knowing the services of Lieutenant Duff was pleased to prefer his claims in such terms to the Board of Admiralty, that he was immediately appointed Captain and Commander of the Martin sloop of war, upon the coast of Scotland.
Soon after his promotion,
Captain Duff married Miss Sophia Dirom [Sophia Dirom 1764 - 1827]
, second daughter of Alexander Dirom, Esq.[Alexander Dirom 1725 - 1788, solicitor and sometime sheriff and provost
of Banff] of Muiresk, to whom he had been from
childhood attached; and fixed the residence of his family at Edinburgh.
Upon the breaking out of the
last war, in the heginning of 1793, the same influence was again most kindly exerted for
Captain Duff's further promotion; and he was one of the very few Masters and Commanders,
who were appointed Post Captains by the Earl of Chatham; to whom he had the honour to have
been personal1y known, when his Lordship, then a Captain in the army, went out to
Gibraltar in the ship in which Mr.Duff served, during the former war. At his Lordship's
desire, Captain Duff soon after relinquished the command of a frigate, then fitting out
for him; in which at so early a period of the war he
would probably have made his fortune, in order to go upon an expedition to the West
Indies, as Captain of the Duke, of 90 guns, bearing the flag of the Hon. Commodore Murray.
This ship led the attack on the batteries at Martinico; and, at the close of the
action, after silencing the battery to which she had been opposed, the powder magazine had
but just been secured, when she was struck by lightning, her main-mast shivered to pieces,
and her hull so damaged, that it was necessary to send her home to be repaired.
The further attack upon
Martinco having been deferred, the Commodore returned to England in the Duke. He expressed
the highest esteem for Captain Duff; and reported his conduct to have been so meritorious,
that he was immediately appointed to the command of the Ambuscade frigate, of 32 guns, and
two years afterwards to the Glenmore, of 38 guns. In these ships he served in the North
Seas, and upon the coast of Ireland, until 1801 ; when, upon a general promotion in the
Navy, he was appointed to the Vengeance, of 74 guns, belonging to the Channel fleet.
This ship, after having been
detached to the Baltic to reinforce the fleet that attacked Copenhagen, became one of the
squadron under Rear-Admiral Campbell; which, after cruising for some time off
Rochefort, was sent to Bantry Bay for the protection of that part of Ireland. Upon this
station they continued until the signature of the preliminaries of peace; when, instead of
returning to their homes, to which, after so long a war, the oficers and men anxiously
looked forward, they were ordered to Jamaica, to watch the movements of the armament sent
from France, to attempt the recovery of the French part of the island of St, Domingo from
the usurped government of the Blacks.
Captain Duff had no
opportunity in the course of the the last war, either of further signalizing himself, or
of materially improving his fortune; but he was always active and vigilant, and though
strict in discipline, had the happiness of being respected and beloved by the officers and
men of every ship which was under his command. On the trials at Portsmouth, it came out in
evidence, that when the ringleaders of the mutiny, which arose in the squadron in Bantry
Bay, sounded the crew of the Vengeance, they found them so attached to their Captain, that
they could not be moved. That ship, there is reason to believe, was the only one in which
no mutinous spirit broke out; and upon the squadron coming to Portsmouth, previous to
their sailing for the West Indies, her crew was indulged with leave to come on shore by
turns, while all the others were confined to their ships. xt
Not more than eighteen
months had elapsed, after Captain Duff had returned from the West Indies, to the bosom of
his family and friends, when the present war broke out. He again solicited employment: and
a general invasion of these united kingdoms being threatened by the French and their
allies, he, in the mean time, without pay or emolument, assisted the General, and staff
officers, in examining the coasts of the Frith [sic] of Forth, with which he was well
acquainted, and in making arrangements for its defence. His steady patron, the Duke
ofGordon, with his excellent son the Marquis of Huntley, seconded his application to be
again called iuto active service; and General, the Earl of Moira, Commander of the forces
in Scotland, by whom he had been appointed to the command of a division of the craft which
had been voluntarily offered for the defence of the Frith of Forth, generously and
unsolicited, wrote to Earl St. Vincent, then first Lord of the Admiralty, in Captain
Duff's behalf.
Upon the general promotion
in the Navy which took place in April 1804, Captain Duff was appointed to the command of
the Mars, of 74 guns, and immediately proceeded to join her off Ferrol. He cruised off
that port, and successively off Rochefort and Brest, as one of the Channel Fleet, until in
May last, he was detached to Cadiz, under Vice-Admiral Collingwood; whose small squadron
of four ships of the line, afterwards increased to eight, continued to keep their station
off that port, unawed by the arrival of the combined fleet.
Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson having, in the end of September, returned from England to resume the command upon that most important station, made a disposition of his increased force into two divisions, one of which was to be led by himself, and the other by Vice-Admiral Collingwood. Rear-Admiral Louis having been detached to the Mediterranean with seven sail of the line; Captain Duff had the honour, upon his departure, though there were senior Captains in the fleet, to be appointed to command the advance, or inshore squadron, of four sail of the line; by the recommendation, no doubt, of Vice-Admiral Collingwood, who selected the Mars as second to himself, in his division.
The squadron commanded by
Captain Duff was stationed midway between our frigates, which cruised close to the harbour
of Cadiz, and our fleet, which kept out of sight of the port. From the time the enemy's
fleet began to come out on the 19th, he was a1most constantly employed repeating signals
from the frigates to the fleet: he followed, and kept sight of the enemy on the 2Oth, and
continued making signals with colours by day, and blue lights at night, until the
memorable morning of the 21st [of October]; when, it being certain tbat the enemy's fleet
could not escape, the signal was made for his squadron to return, and take their places in
the order of battle. The signal was then made for the Mars to lead the leee division of
our fIeet, and to break the enemy's line. Captain Duff, knowing that his ship sailed ill,
ordered every stitch of canvas to be instantly set; and in the meantime, while bearing
down upon the enemy, went through his ship to see tbat every thing was in readiness for
action. He spoke to his officers and men in every part of the ship; and, among other
directions for their conduct, strictly enjoined them not to waste their fire, as he
would take care to lay them close enough to the enemy. The Mars, notwithstanding
every exertion, was passed by the Royal Sovereign, bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral
Collingwood; then the Belleisle also shot ahead, and they were in action a few minutes
before the Mars: each ship breaking through a different part of the enemy's line.
The wind, which had been
light, then became more uncertain, and prevented the rest of the ships from closing
immediately with the enemy; so that the few who were first engaged, were in a manner
surrounded for some time to maintain a most severe conflict There was a French ship on
each side of the Mars; and a Spanish ship, a first rate on her bow; and a fourth ship also
within range of shot. The ship on her starboard quarter, the Fougeaux, was soon disabled,
and it was thought she had struck, but her colours had only been shot away as she had
never ceased to fire. The Captain of marines on the poop, seeing that the Fougueux in
dropping to leeward, was getting into a position which would enable her to rake the Mars,
and that she was preparing to do so came down to the quarter-deck to mention it to Captain
Duff. The want of wind rendered it impossible to alter the position of the Mars, nor could
it with safety be attempted, in regard to the enemy's other ships: Captain Duff therefore
said to the Captain of marines, "Do you think our guns would bear on her?" He
answered, "I think not, but I cannot see for smoke." - "Then," replied
the Captain, "we must point our guns at the ships on which they can bear. I shall go
and look; but the men below may see better, as there will be less smokc." - Captain
Duff went to the end of the quarter-deck to look over the side; and then told his
Aid-de-camp, Mr. Arbuthnot, to go below, and order the guns to be pointed more aft,
meaning against the Fouglleux. He had scarcely turned round to go with these orders when
the Fougueux raked the Mars. A cannon shot killcd Captain Duff, and two seamen who were
immediately behind him: the ball struck the Captain on the breast, and carried off his
head; his body fell on the gangway, where it was covered with a spare colour an union
jack, until after the action.
The battle now raged in its
utmost fury, and both fleets were enveloped in smoke. The carnage on both sides,
particularly on that of the enemy, was immense: and about the same time that the gallant
Duff fell in the Mars, being onc hour and five minutes after the commencement of the
action, Captain Cooke, the companion of his youth, was killed in the Bellerophon and their
Commander in Chief, the illustrious Lord Nelson, was mortally wounded on board the
Victory.
The Mars continued engaged
during the whole of the action, frequently with fresh ships; but suffered from none so
severely as she had done from the Fougeaux, which continued to drift to leeward, until she
was engaged by others of our ships, and finally captured by the Temeraire.
On board the Mars, besides
Captain Duff; there were killed in the action, Mr. Alexander Duff Master's Mate, acting
Lieutenant, Messrs. Corbyn and Morgan; Midshipmen, and 25 seamen and marines. The wounded
amounted to near 16 officers, 5 petty officers, and 60 seamen and marines: in all 98
killed and wounded. Among the latter was the gallant Captain of Marines, Norman, who
afterwards died of his wounds.
When the batt1e had ceased;
and it was generally known in the Mars that their gallant Captain was killed, there was
scarcely a dry eye among the crew. Every oue felt that he had lost his friend and
benefactor; and they all exclaimed, " We never shall again have such a
Commander!"
Captain Duff was a man of fine stature, strong and well made, above six feet in height, and had a manly, open, benevolent countenance. During thirty years service he had not been four years unemployed, and that was about twenty months after his return from the West Indies in 1787; and not quite two years after the last war. Although he went early to sea, he lost no opportunity of improving himself in the theory, as well as in the practice of his profession; and acted the part of an instructor, and father, to the numerous young men who were under his command. By his beloved wife [Sophia Dirom 1764 - 1827] he had five children; of whom a boy [Norwich Duff 1792 - 1862] and two girls [Georgina Helen Duff 1803 - 1832 and Anna Margaret Duff 1805 - 1827] remain, together with their disconsolate mother, to mourn their father's death. His son, thirteen years of age, had joined him as a Midshipman [3] on the 19th of September last, and soon after his arrival on board the Mars, wrote exultingly to his mother, that his father's ship had been put in the post of honour next to Vice-Admiral Collingwood, in his division of the fleet. This spirited youth who has commenced his career in so interesting a manner, was, after the glorious victory of Trafalgar, removed by Admiral, now Lord Collingwood, with the kindest attention, from on board the Euryalus frigate; which soon afterwards was sent with dispatches to England. The Hon. Captain Blackwood, the distinguished officer who commands that ship, has undertaken in the handsomest manner to continue to take charge of the son of his respected friend the late Captain Duff; than whom he has been pleased to say, "His Majesty's service could not boast of a better, or more gallant officer." We can add with the greatest truth, that he was also a tender husband, an affectionate parent, a dutiful son, and a sincere friend!
The first Lieutenant of the Mars, Mr. Hennah, who, after his gallant Captain fell,
emulated his conduct in fighting the ship with admirable skill and intrepidity, took the
first opportunity of leisure, after the battle, and the subsequent storm, to write the
following letter to Mrs. Duff (Click on the next line to see the letter text.):
The same opportunity brought also the following letter to Mrs Duff, from Rear-Admiral the Earl of Northesk:-
Among the numerous letters of condolence addressed to Mrs. Duff and her family, on this melancholy occasion, by their relations and friends at home, the following extract is particularly interesting, being from the Rev. Mr. David Milne, Minister of the Gospel at Edinkillie, in the county of Moray; who was tutor to Captain Duff for several years before he went to sea.
In order to illustrate the
character which we have given of this most amiable man, and excellent officer, whose life
may be offered as an inestimable pattern to society at large, as well as to his
profession, we shall annex some extracts from his letters. They are addressed to his
brother-in-law and to his wife; but chiefly to the latter: who from motives of delicacy
has with the greatest difficu1ty been prevailed upon to permit them to meet the public
eye; and Mrs, Duff could only have been induced to do so, by the consideration that their
contents will do further bonour to the memory of her beloved and lamented husband.
Captain Duff was in the
practice of writing from day to day to his wife, and dispatching his letters as
opportunities occurred. In this manner, his correspondence with her, had it been
preserved, would have been very voluminous: but each time on his return home, he always
asked for his letters, and destroyed them: thinking they were too bulky, and not of
importance to be preserved. Thus it is only during his last absence, that we are enabled
to give such extracts; with which two are included from the Captain's son to his mother;
one just after he joined his father, and the other after his honorable death.
============
Extracts from the Letters of
Captain Duff, of the Mars, to his family; from the time he left them in May 1804, to the
time of his death, the 2Ist of October, 1805.
(No. I.)
May 7th, 1804
To his
Brother-in-law, Colonel Dirom, Deputy Quarter-Master-General in North Britain.
* * *
* *
(No. II.)
May 25th, 1804
* * * *
*
(No. III.)
June 5th 1804
* * * * *
(No. IV.)
June 5th 1804
* * * *
*
(No. V.)
June 10th & 13th 1804
* * * *
*
(No. VI.)
June 17th 1804
* * * *
*
(No. VII.)
July 4th & 10th 1804
* * * *
*
(No. VIII.)
July 15th 1804
* * * *
*
(No. IX.)
July 16th 1804
* * * *
*
(No. X.)
August 15th 1804
* * * *
*
(No. XI.)
September 7th 1804
* * * *
*
(No. XII.)
October 23rd 1804
* * * *
*
(No. XIII.)
October 9th, 1804
* * * * *
(No. XIV.)
October 28th 1804
* * * *
*
(No. XV.)
October 30th - November 2nd 1804
* * * *
*
(No. XVI.)
November 8th - 17th 1804
* * * *
*
(No. XVII.)
November 23rd 1804
* * * *
*
(No. XVIII.)
January 24th 1805
* * * *
*
(No. XIX.)
February 11th 1805
* * * *
*
(No. XX.)
March 27th 1805
* * * *
*
(No. XXI.)
May 6th 1805
* * * *
*
(No. XXII.)
May 10th 1805
* * * *
*
(No. XXIII.)
May 24th 1805
* * * *
*
(No. XXIV.)
June 14th 1805
* * * *
*
(No. XXV.)
July 6th 1805
* * * *
*
(No. XXVI.)
August 22nd 1805
* * * *
*
(No. XXVII.)
August 26th - 31st 1805
* * * *
*
(No. XXVIII.)
September 1st - 9th 1805
* * * *
*
(No. XXIX.)
September 23rd 1805
* * * *
*
(No. XXX.)
September 28th 1805
* * * *
*
(No. XXXI.)
October 1st 1805
* * * *
*
(No. XXXII.)
October 1st 1805
From Norwich
Duff (son to Captain George Duff) to his mother
* * * *
*
(No. XXXIII.)
October 7th 1805
From Captain
George Duff to his wife
* * * *
*
(No. XXXIV.)
October 8th - 10th 1805
* * * *
*
(No. XXXXV.)
October 17th - 18th 1805
* * * *
*
(No. XXXVI.)
October 21st 1805
* * * *
*
(No. XXXVII.)
October 21st 1805
From Captain
Duff's son, Norwich, to his newly widowed mother
* * * *
*