2 THE KEDGE ANCHOR Issue 41 – Autumn 2014 THE CHAIRMAN’S DISPATCH Peter Warwick “The Old Admiral” September, October and November are always fascinating and inspiring times for anyone interested in the history of the Georgian sailing era and Lord Nelson in particular. Three anniversaries come one after the other. We celebrate Nelson’s birthday on 29 September 1758, commemorate his Immortal Memory and that of those who fell with him at the Battle of Trafalgar on 21 October 1805 and celebrate the journey of Lieutenant John Richards Lapenotière with the news of the victory and Nelson’s death, which reached the Admiralty on 6 November 1805. Heroes are born before they are made, so even though his parents preferred to call him Horace they could not have guessed that his Christian name, Horatio, would ultimately fit perfectly England’s finest hero. There are few, if any, British historical characters from 200 or more years ago who continue to have such an enduring, pervasive and iconic impact. This longevity and durability is based on the worthiness of his qualities and in particular the combination of his humanity and persevering spirit. Sir Isaac Heard captured it during Nelson’s funeral service when unscripted he added, ‘and the Hero who in the moment of Victory fell covered with Immortal glory’ to the long list of Nelson’s titles. At the Club’s annual Trafalgar Dinner at Newhouse on 18 October guest of honour Lord Sterling of Plaistow reflected this rare spirit in his toast and it was also palpable at the Sea Cadet Parade in Trafalgar Square the following day, and at the First Sea Lord’s wreath laying ceremony at Nelson’s tomb in St Paul’s Cathedral on 21 October. The 1805 Club has the privilege of being formally involved in both of the latter ceremonies and as I stood wreath in hand at the base of Railton’s column gazing at the great bronze plaque on the North face of the plinth, which depicts Nelson at the Battle of the Nile by William Frederick Woodington. I was not only conscious of ‘all those who fell with him’ but also of those who had dedicated their lives to the naval service. Specifically, thanks to a recent discussion with our North American Secretary John Rodgaard, ‘The Old Admiral’. Born 20 years later than Nelson in 1778, he went to sea at the same age. As if a sign of his future destiny he was introduced to President George Washington at the very beginning of his career. He died on 6 November 1869; the anniversary of the day Lapenotière delivered Collingwood’s Trafalgar Dispatch to the Admiralty. He had given sixty-two years of distinguished service to his country, had outlasted most of his ships and outlived all of his junior officers, hence the sobriquet given to him by the poet Edmund Clarence Stedman. He was given a stunning funeral, second only to Abraham Lincoln’s. His name? Charles Stuart. He was the one Whom Death had spared alone Of all the captains of that lusty age, Who sought the foemen where they lay, On sea or sheltering bay, Nor till the prize was theirs repressed their rage. They are gone – all gone; The rest with glory and the undying Powers; Only their name and fane and what they saved are ours! Rear Admiral Stewart’s biography is a virtual history of the US Navy from its founding in the late eighteenth century. His adventures and influence spanned the French, Barbary, 1812, Mexican and American Civil wars. During the War of 1812 he commanded the USS Constitution – ‘Old Ironsides’, one of the two ships that he outlasted and now the most famous US Navy vessel ever and the oldest warship afloat in the world. Stuart is famed for his epic action on 20 February 1814 against HMS Cyane (34) and HMS Levant (21), during which he skillfully maneuvered the superior Constitution as if his frigate was a dinghy on a pond and simultaneously defeated the two British ships. Yet in spite of being more significant he is not as well-known as Captain John Paul Jones. Such is the mystery of immortality. John Rodgaard and his co-author Claude Berube are to be praised for bringing Stuart out from the shadows and I am confident that we shall hear a lot more about him in future not least because he was the subject of John’s paper on US activities in the Mediterranean between 1815 and the 1840’s at The 1805 Club’s international naval historical conference on the island of Menorca 4–11 October this year. Vice chairman Bill White and Club member Lorraine Ure deserve a hearty and genuine ‘Bravo Zulu’ for arranging such a significant occasion which brought together such a distinguished line up of speakers, including Professor Andrew Lambert, Colonel Nicholas Lipscombe, Michael Crumplin, Dr Agustin Guimera, Charles Fremantle and of course John Rodgaard. I was very disappointed not to be there! The Club has been pleased to contribute to the restoration of the Royal Naval Hospital on the Isla de Rey in Mahon harbour established in 1711 – the oldest in the world. Moreover, we are delighted that the conference raised a further 1,000 Euro for the restoration programme. Restoration, conservation or preservation? There are a multitude of threats to outdoor monuments and memorials. Neglect is the most common, but pollution, bird droppings, salt contamination, leaf staining, acid rain, rusting ironwork, tree and shrub intrusion, subsidence, vandalism and accidental damage can all take their toll. The action required depends on the nature and extent of the threat and the philosophy inspiring the nature of repairs.
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