Johnston Blakeley, also spelled Johnston Blakely (October 1781 – October 1814), was an officer in the United States Navy during the Quasi-War with France and the War of 1812. He is considered to be one of the most successful American naval officers of that period.
Early life
Blakeley was born near Seaforde, County Down, Ireland. Brought to the United States as a child in 1783, he graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was a member of the Dialectic and Philanthropic Societies, in 1800, then joined the Navy and was appointed a Midshipman in 1800.
After service in during the Quasi-War with France and command of early in the War of 1812, Master Commandant Blakeley was appointed to command of the newly built sloop-of-war .
Commerce Raiding in the War of 1812
Beginning of Commerce Raiding
The USS Wasp under Johnston Blakeley departed Portsmouth on May 1, 1814, at four o’clock in the afternoon, cleared the American harbor at dusk, and set off into the Atlantic under a fresh breeze. The Wasp went on the month-long voyage across the Atlantic. Blakeley’s goal was the English Channel, where British ships, presumably safe in home waters, formed their convoys for outgoing voyages and scattered upon their return for their various home ports. The Wasp arrived on station in late May and on June 2 took and burned her first prize, the bark Neptune. Unlike privateers who expected to seize property for profit, Blakeley was a commerce raider who had orders to destroy his prizes after looting them for needed supplies and provisions.
Destroying 3 vessels and making 1 vessel into a cartel
Over the following weeks the Wasp seized another four ships- the brig William, the brig Pallas, the galliot Henrietta, and the 325-ton ship Orange Boven. All of these prizes were burned or scuttled, except the Henrietta, whose cargo was overboard so that she could be used as a cartel ship to convey paroled prisoners to England.
Destroying HMS Reindeer
On June 28, Blakeley sighted two sails and chased them. The Wasp identified a vessel as the British vessel HMS Reindeer. Reindeer was commanded by William Manners. After a sea combat of broadside bombardments, cannon shooting, and maneuvering. Captain Manners wounded in both legs turned the Reindeer toward the Wasp, crashing into her port side. The British swarmed to the rail to board the Wasp but were repeatedly beaten back by the “cool and deliberate” American musket fire. Manners who led the van got shot down. Then he got shot in the head by an American marine sharpshooter. At Blakeley’s order, the Americans stormed the Reindeer. After the Americans won, the Americans had 9 killed and 15 wounded. While the British had 25 killed and 42 wounded. Blakeley had the prisoners and the British twelve pounders, the Reindeer was burned at Blakeley’s orders.
Further Raiding British Shipping
Blakeley then set course for the nearest neutral port, L’Orient in France. Capturing en route two more British merchantmen. Independence day was celebrated by burning the brig Regulator, laden with port wine, and two days later the schooner Jenny was scuttled. During a 3-week interlude in hospitable L’Orient. Blakeley was having his vessel repaired while he sent 79 prisoners to England on a cartel ship.
Raiding and Destroying 2 British Brigs
On August 27, Blakely on the resupplied Wasp headed back to her former cruising ground in the English Channel. Blakeley destroyed two prizes in the first two days on station, the brigs Lettice and Bon Accord.
Raiding a British Convoy
On September 1, Blakeley encountered a Gibraltar-bound convoy of ten merchantmen protected by the seventy-four-gun Armada. The swift Wasp easily outsailed and outmaneuvered the lumbering ship-of-the-line, darting in and cutting out and burning the brig Mary, which carried a valuable cargo of cannon and military stores.
Defeating HMS Avon
Continuing south toward Gibraltar, the Wasp sighted four sails in the late afternoon. Blakeley ordered pursuit of the nearest vessel. After a lot of cannon fire and combat, the enemy vessel surrendered. But three more enemy vessels came by. Blakeley, judging that the risk was too great, decided to slip away in the gloom. The vanquished but rescued British vessel was the brig HMS Avon. The Avon sank with 10 killed and 29 wounded. While the USS Wasp escaped with 3 wounded.