Peter Puget
Encyclopedia
Peter Puget was an officer in the Royal Navy
, best known for his exploration of Puget Sound
.
and served on the following ships:
)
Upon returning to England, Puget was assigned to HMS Discovery
, temporarily as a master's mate
, and then commissioned as her 3rd lieutenant on 11 June 1790
to assist in its fitting out for an exploration of the South Pacific. During the Nootka Crisis
, however, it was used as a depot vessel
. When the crisis ended with the Treaty of Nootka Sound
, the mission changed; the first priority was to physically accept possession of the Sound from the Spanish. An accurate survey the North American Pacific
Coast, and other surveys, were important secondary missions. Because the Admiralty, following the Mutiny on the Bounty
incident, had ordered, as a precaution against mutiny, that ships no longer make such long voyages alone, the armed tender HMS Chatham
was assigned to the expedition, and HMS Daedalus
was to bring supplies a year later.
In 1791, Discovery and Chatham sailed to Cape Town, Australia, Tahiti and the Sandwich Isles before starting a detailed survey of the Pacific North American coast, from the Columbia River
to Alaska. Many features were named after friends or persons of influence. When it was hoped that the Georgia Strait
and Admiralty Inlet
might lead to the Northwest Passage
, Vancouver anchored the ships near modern-day Seattle, Washington
and sent Puget in command of two rowing craft to survey south (20-27 May 1792). In recognition of Puget's work, Vancouver named the south end Puget Sound; it is unlikely that either man realized this name would over time encompass the whole region. Puget was also involved in the exploration by small boat of the Columbia River; his name was applied to the tiny Puget Island
opposite the Indian village at Cathlamet
.
Puget was given command of Chatham when her first captain was murdered in Hawai'i and his replacement was sent with dispatches back to England.
. In 1795, the two-ship squadron returned to England by way of Cape Horn
, capturing a Dutch East Indiaman along the way. Once home, Puget was confirmed in the rank of Commander.
In February 1796, Commander Puget was given the tiny Adelphi with which to protect a supply convoy to Gibraltar
. To protect the return convoy, he fitted out an armed freighter, the Esther, using his own funds. On the return voyage, he captured a Spanish merchantman and sent it ahead with a prize crew. Then his convoy was attacked by French frigate La Bellona, and Puget interposed his tiny vessel to let the other ships flee. Puget then bribed the French captain (pointing out that he was unlikely to collect much in prize money) and brought his command home. Ironically, the British Admiralty found a way not to pay Puget prize money on the merchantman, although it did cover his expenses, including the bribe.
In 1797, Puget was given command of the sloop-of-war HMS Raven and join the fleet of Sir John Jervis
. Jervis put him in charge of the San Nicholas, a Spanish ship-of-the-line, still crewed by Spaniards; Puget suppressed a mutiny and delivered the crew to Lisbon.
In 1807, Puget played a decisive role at the Second Battle of Copenhagen
. He led an inshore squadron of shallow-draft vessels (including two bomb ketches
) to disable the Danish gunboats and to cover the army's seaward flank in a manoeuvre similar to Nelson's action in the First Battle of Copenhagen
. However, British public reaction to the second attack was unfavourable, since it was an attack on a neutral country; no fame was attached to Puget's success.
Thereafter, Puget settled into family life, living in Bath for reasons of health. He was gazetted a Companion of the Bath in 1818 and, according to the rules of seniority, he was commissioned Rear Admiral of the Blue on July 19, 1821.
The Bath Chronicle memorialized him:
Their eldest son, Peter Richard Puget, went to America and became an actor. Other sons served in the British Army or Navy, one of whom (William David) retired as a captain. The daughters all married and it is through one of them, Eleanor Catherine, came the only known descendent of Peter and Hannah Puget.
Hannah Puget never remarried, died on 14 September 1849, and is buried next to Peter, in the church yard of Woolley, near Bath. The original sarcophagus
is heavily weatherworn, and has been supplemented by a bronze plaque donated by the Seattle Historical Society.
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, best known for his exploration of Puget Sound
Puget Sound
Puget Sound is a sound in the U.S. state of Washington. It is a complex estuarine system of interconnected marine waterways and basins, with one major and one minor connection to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Pacific Ocean — Admiralty Inlet being the major connection and...
.
Mr. Midshipman Puget
Puget's ancestors had fled France for Britain during Louis XIV's persecution of the Huguenots. His father, John, was a successful merchant and banker, but died in 1767, leaving Puget's mother, Esther, with two sons and three daughters. In 1778, twelve-year-old Peter entered the navy as a midshipmanMidshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
and served on the following ships:
- 1778: HMS DunkirkHMS Dunkirk (1754)HMS Dunkirk was a 60-gun fourth rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built at Woolwich Dockyard to the draught specified by the 1745 Establishment as amended in 1750, and launched on 22 July 1754.-Career:...
, an ageing 60 gun two-decker, Captain John Milligan. Harbour service. - December 1779: HMS SyrenHMS Syren (1782)HMS Syren was a frigate in the 18th century Royal Navy. Among her more famous midshipmen were the future Rear Admiral Peter Puget and John Pasco, Nelson's signal officer at the Battle of Trafalgar....
, frigate, Captain Edmund Dodd. Patrolled North Sea, battling blockade runners. - 1780: HMS LowestoffeHMS Lowestoffe (1761)HMS Lowestoffe was a 32-gun fifth-rate frigate of the Royal Navy. Built during the latter part of the Seven Years' War, she went on to see action in the American War of Independence and the French Revolutionary War, and served often in the Caribbean...
, 32, Captain Edmund Dodd, (transferred from Syren); bound for the West Indies squadron. There, Puget served with a small force of naval gunners reinforcing the garrison at St. Kitts, and survived the defence of Brimstone HillBrimstone Hill Fortress National ParkBrimstone Hill Fortress National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the island of St. Kitts in the Federation of St. Christopher and Nevis in the Eastern Caribbean....
against the vastly superior forces of French Admiral de GrasseFrançois Joseph Paul de GrasseLieutenant Général des Armées Navales François-Joseph Paul, marquis de Grasse Tilly, comte de Grasse was a French admiral. He is best known for his command of the French fleet at the Battle of the Chesapeake, which led directly to the British surrender at Yorktown...
(see Battle of St. KittsBattle of St. KittsThe Battle of Saint Kitts, also known as the Battle of Frigate Bay, was a naval battle that took place on 25 and 26 January 1782 during the American Revolutionary War between a British fleet under Rear-Admiral Sir Samuel Hood and a larger French fleet under the Comte de Grasse.-Background:When Hood...
). Probably served in Rodney and Hood's victory of 12 April 1782 at the Battle of the SaintesBattle of the SaintesThe Battle of the Saintes took place over 4 days, 9 April 1782 – 12 April 1782, during the American War of Independence, and was a victory of a British fleet under Admiral Sir George Rodney over a French fleet under the Comte de Grasse forcing the French and Spanish to abandon a planned...
. - November 1782: HMS ThetisHMS Thetis (1782)HMS Thetis was a 38-gun fifth-rate frigate of the Royal Navy launched in 1782. In 1795 she captured the French storeships Prevoyante and Raison; and in 1801 took part in Lord Keith's expedition to Egypt; in 1809 assisted in cutting out the French 16-gun man-of-war Nisus at Guadeloupe, and took part...
, 38, Captain John Blankett; Gibraltar and Mediterranean - 1783: HMS EuropaHMS Europa (1765)HMS Europa was a 64-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 21 April 1765 at Lepe, Hampshire. She was renamed HMS Europe in 1778, and spent the rest of her career under this name....
, 64, Captain Vashon, flying the broad pennant of Commodore Alan GardnerAlan Gardner, 1st Baron GardnerAdmiral Alan Gardner, 1st Baron Gardner was a British Royal Navy officer and peer of the realm. He became one of the Georgian era's most dashing frigate captains and, ultimately, a respected senior admiral.-Naval career:...
; service in Jamaica. Met then-Lieutenant George VancouverGeorge VancouverCaptain George Vancouver RN was an English officer of the British Royal Navy, best known for his 1791-95 expedition, which explored and charted North America's northwestern Pacific Coast regions, including the coasts of contemporary Alaska, British Columbia, Washington and Oregon...
. Paid off in 1787. - 1787: Rejoined Captain Dodd on the Lowestoffe, but within two months, that was paid off too.
- 1788 (?): East Indiaman Prince
Lieutenant Puget and the Discovery
(See also: Vancouver ExpeditionVancouver Expedition
The Vancouver Expedition was a four-and-a-half-year voyage of exploration and diplomacy, commanded by Captain George Vancouver. The expedition circumnavigated the globe, touched five continents and changed the course of history for the indigenous nations and several European empires and their...
)
Upon returning to England, Puget was assigned to HMS Discovery
HMS Discovery (1789)
HMS Discovery was a Royal Navy ship launched in 1789 and best known as the lead ship in George Vancouver's exploration of the west coast of North America in his famous 1791-1795 expedition. She was converted to a bomb vessel in 1798 and participated in the Battle of Copenhagen. Thereafter she...
, temporarily as a master's mate
Master's mate
Master's mate is an obsolete rating which was used by the Royal Navy, United States Navy and merchant services in both countries for a senior petty officer who assisted the master...
, and then commissioned as her 3rd lieutenant on 11 June 1790
to assist in its fitting out for an exploration of the South Pacific. During the Nootka Crisis
Nootka Crisis
The Nootka Crisis was an international incident and political dispute between the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Spain, triggered by a series of events that took place during the summer of 1789 at Nootka Sound...
, however, it was used as a depot vessel
Depot ship
A depot ship is a ship which acts as a mobile or fixed base for other ships and submarines or supports a naval base. Depot ships may be specifically designed for their purpose or be converted from another purpose...
. When the crisis ended with the Treaty of Nootka Sound
Nootka Convention
The Nootka Conventions were a series of three agreements between the Kingdom of Spain and the Kingdom of Great Britain, signed in the 1790s which averted a war between the two empires over overlapping claims to portions of the Pacific Northwest coast of North America.The claims of Spain dated back...
, the mission changed; the first priority was to physically accept possession of the Sound from the Spanish. An accurate survey the North American Pacific
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
Coast, and other surveys, were important secondary missions. Because the Admiralty, following the Mutiny on the Bounty
Mutiny on the Bounty
The mutiny on the Bounty was a mutiny that occurred aboard the British Royal Navy ship HMS Bounty on 28 April 1789, and has been commemorated by several books, films, and popular songs, many of which take considerable liberties with the facts. The mutiny was led by Fletcher Christian against the...
incident, had ordered, as a precaution against mutiny, that ships no longer make such long voyages alone, the armed tender HMS Chatham
HMS Chatham (1788)
HMS Chatham was a Royal Navy survey brig that accompanied HMS Discovery on George Vancouver's exploration of the west coast of North America in his 1791–1795 expedition. Chatham was built by King, of Dover and launched in early 1788...
was assigned to the expedition, and HMS Daedalus
HMS Daedalus (1780)
HMS Daedalus was a 32-gun fifth rate frigate of the Royal Navy, launched in 1780 from the yards of John Fisher, of Liverpool. She went on to serve in the American War of Independence, as well as the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars....
was to bring supplies a year later.
In 1791, Discovery and Chatham sailed to Cape Town, Australia, Tahiti and the Sandwich Isles before starting a detailed survey of the Pacific North American coast, from the Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
to Alaska. Many features were named after friends or persons of influence. When it was hoped that the Georgia Strait
Strait of Georgia
The Strait of Georgia or the Georgia Strait is a strait between Vancouver Island and the mainland coast of British Columbia, Canada. It is approximately long and varies in width from...
and Admiralty Inlet
Admiralty Inlet
Admiralty Inlet is a strait in the U.S. state of Washington connecting the eastern end of the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Puget Sound. It lies between Whidbey Island and the northeastern part of the Olympic Peninsula....
might lead to the Northwest Passage
Northwest Passage
The Northwest Passage is a sea route through the Arctic Ocean, along the northern coast of North America via waterways amidst the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans...
, Vancouver anchored the ships near modern-day Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
and sent Puget in command of two rowing craft to survey south (20-27 May 1792). In recognition of Puget's work, Vancouver named the south end Puget Sound; it is unlikely that either man realized this name would over time encompass the whole region. Puget was also involved in the exploration by small boat of the Columbia River; his name was applied to the tiny Puget Island
Puget Island, Washington
Puget Island is a 19.365 km² island and unincorporated rural community in the Columbia River in Wahkiakum County, Washington, United States. The Julia Butler Hansen Bridge carries State Route 409 across the Cathlamet Channel to connect the island to the town of Cathlamet, Washington...
opposite the Indian village at Cathlamet
Cathlamet, Washington
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 565 people, 246 households, and 138 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,426.2 people per square mile . There were 278 housing units at an average density of 701.7 per square mile...
.
Puget was given command of Chatham when her first captain was murdered in Hawai'i and his replacement was sent with dispatches back to England.
Commander and captain
While only a lieutenant-in-command of Chatham, Puget served with distinction for the rest of the survey. He assisted Vancouver in negotiations with the Spanish at Nootka SoundNootka Sound
Nootka Sound is a complex inlet or sound of the Pacific Ocean on the rugged west coast of Vancouver Island, in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Historically also known as King George's Sound, as a strait it separates Vancouver Island and Nootka Island.-History:The inlet is part of the...
. In 1795, the two-ship squadron returned to England by way of Cape Horn
Cape Horn
Cape Horn is the southernmost headland of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago of southern Chile, and is located on the small Hornos Island...
, capturing a Dutch East Indiaman along the way. Once home, Puget was confirmed in the rank of Commander.
In February 1796, Commander Puget was given the tiny Adelphi with which to protect a supply convoy to Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
. To protect the return convoy, he fitted out an armed freighter, the Esther, using his own funds. On the return voyage, he captured a Spanish merchantman and sent it ahead with a prize crew. Then his convoy was attacked by French frigate La Bellona, and Puget interposed his tiny vessel to let the other ships flee. Puget then bribed the French captain (pointing out that he was unlikely to collect much in prize money) and brought his command home. Ironically, the British Admiralty found a way not to pay Puget prize money on the merchantman, although it did cover his expenses, including the bribe.
In 1797, Puget was given command of the sloop-of-war HMS Raven and join the fleet of Sir John Jervis
John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent
Admiral of the Fleet John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent GCB, PC was an admiral in the Royal Navy and Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom...
. Jervis put him in charge of the San Nicholas, a Spanish ship-of-the-line, still crewed by Spaniards; Puget suppressed a mutiny and delivered the crew to Lisbon.
- 1798: Captain of troopship HMS Van Tromp
- March, 1799: Flag captainFlag captainIn the Royal Navy, a flag captain was the captain of an admiral's flagship. During the 18th and 19th centuries, this ship might also have a "captain of the fleet", who would be ranked between the admiral and the "flag captain" as the ship's "First Captain", with the "flag captain" as the ship's...
for Admiral James WhitshedJames WhitshedAdmiral of the Fleet Sir James Hawkins-Whitshed, 1st Baronet GCB was a British naval officer.-Naval career:Hawkins-Whitshed joined the Royal Navy in 1777, and was promoted to Lieutenant the following year. In 1780 he took part in the British victory at Battle of Cape St...
on HMS TemeraireHMS Temeraire (1798)HMS Temeraire was a 98-gun second-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy. Launched in 1798, she served during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, mostly on blockades or convoy escort duties...
, 98. - 1800: Captain of ship-of-the-line HMS MonarchHMS Monarch (1765)HMS Monarch was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 20 July 1765 at Deptford Dockyard.Monarch had a very active career, fighting in her first battle in 1778 at the First Battle of Ushant and her second under Admiral Rodney at Cape St. Vincent in 1780...
, 74; served with the Channel FleetChannel FleetThe Channel Fleet was the Royal Navy formation of warships that defended the waters of the English Channel from 1690 to 1909.-History:The Channel Fleet dates back at least to 1690 when its role was to defend England against the French threat under the leadership of Edward Russell, 1st Earl of...
until she was paid off in 1802, following the Peace of Amiens - 1804: Flag captain for Rear Admiral Sir Thomas GravesThomas Graves, 1st Baron Graves|-|-...
on HMS FoudroyantHMS Foudroyant (1798)HMS Foudroyant was an 80-gun third rate of the Royal Navy. She was built at Plymouth Dockyard and launched on 31 March 1798.Goodwin gives the launch date for Foudroyant as 31 March, 25 May, and 31 August. The text highlights this discrepancy and attributes the August date to Lyon's Sailing Navy...
, 80; served in Channel blockade until seriously injured in 1805; sent home to recover. - February 1807: Captain of ship-of-the-line HMS GoliathHMS Goliath (1781)HMS Goliath was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line in the Royal Navy. She was launched on 19 October 1781 at Deptford Dockyard. She was present at the Battle of Cape St Vincent, Battle of the Nile, and Battle of Copenhagen. She was broken up in 1815....
, 74.
In 1807, Puget played a decisive role at the Second Battle of Copenhagen
Battle of Copenhagen (1807)
The Second Battle of Copenhagen was a British preemptive attack on Copenhagen, targeting the civilian population in order to seize the Dano-Norwegian fleet and in turn originate the term to Copenhagenize.-Background:Despite the defeat and loss of many ships in the first Battle of Copenhagen in...
. He led an inshore squadron of shallow-draft vessels (including two bomb ketches
Bomb vessel
A bomb vessel, bomb ship, bomb ketch, or simply bomb was a type of wooden sailing naval ship. Its primary armament was not cannon —although bomb vessels carried a few cannon for self-defence—but rather mortars mounted forward near the bow and elevated to a high angle, and projecting their fire in a...
) to disable the Danish gunboats and to cover the army's seaward flank in a manoeuvre similar to Nelson's action in the First Battle of Copenhagen
Battle of Copenhagen (1801)
The Battle of Copenhagen was an engagement which saw a British fleet under the command of Admiral Sir Hyde Parker fight and strategically defeat a Danish-Norwegian fleet anchored just off Copenhagen on 2 April 1801. Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson led the main attack. He famously disobeyed Parker's...
. However, British public reaction to the second attack was unfavourable, since it was an attack on a neutral country; no fame was attached to Puget's success.
Shore career
- 1809: At the request of Admiral Sir Richard StrachanSir Richard Strachan, 6th BaronetSir Richard John Strachan, 6th Baronet GCB was a British officer of the Royal Navy during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, eventually rising to the rank of Admiral.-Childhood:...
, Puget planned and assisted in the successful amphibious invasion of the Dutch islands of WalcherenWalcherenthumb|right|250px|Campveer Tower in Veere, built in 1500Walcheren is a former island in the province of Zeeland in the Netherlands at the mouth of the Scheldt estuary. It lies between the Oosterschelde in the north and the Westerschelde in the south and is roughly the shape of a rhombus...
and VlissingenFlushing, NetherlandsVlissingen is a municipality and a city in the southwestern Netherlands on the former island of Walcheren. With its strategic location between the Scheldt river and the North Sea, Vlissingen has been an important harbour for centuries. It was granted city rights in 1315. In the 17th century...
. - 1810-1817: Commissioner of the Navy at Madras. He supervised naval affairs throughout much of India, fought the corruption endemic to supply practices, and developed the new naval base at TrincomaleeTrincomaleeTrincomalee is a port city in Eastern Province, Sri Lanka and lies on the east coast of the island, about 113 miles south of Jaffna. It has a population of approximately 100,000 . The city is built on a peninsula, which divides the inner and outer harbours. Overlooking the Kottiyar Bay,...
.
Thereafter, Puget settled into family life, living in Bath for reasons of health. He was gazetted a Companion of the Bath in 1818 and, according to the rules of seniority, he was commissioned Rear Admiral of the Blue on July 19, 1821.
The Bath Chronicle memorialized him:
- "Died on Thursday 31st October at his home in Grosvenor Place, after a long and painful illness, Rear Admiral Peter Puget C.B. This lamented officer had sailed round the world with the late Captain Vancouver, had commanded various men-of-war and was many years Commissioner at Madras, the climate of which place greatly contributed to the destruction of his health."
Personal life
Peter Puget married Hannah Elrington on 6 February 1797. They had seven sons and four daughters.Their eldest son, Peter Richard Puget, went to America and became an actor. Other sons served in the British Army or Navy, one of whom (William David) retired as a captain. The daughters all married and it is through one of them, Eleanor Catherine, came the only known descendent of Peter and Hannah Puget.
Hannah Puget never remarried, died on 14 September 1849, and is buried next to Peter, in the church yard of Woolley, near Bath. The original sarcophagus
Sarcophagus
A sarcophagus is a funeral receptacle for a corpse, most commonly carved or cut from stone. The word "sarcophagus" comes from the Greek σαρξ sarx meaning "flesh", and φαγειν phagein meaning "to eat", hence sarkophagus means "flesh-eating"; from the phrase lithos sarkophagos...
is heavily weatherworn, and has been supplemented by a bronze plaque donated by the Seattle Historical Society.