{"title":"ARTIST: Geoff Hunt","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"agamemnon-opens-fire-on-the-ca-ira-13th-march-1795-by-geoff-hunt","title":"Agamemnon Opens Fire on the Ca Ira, 13th March 1795 by Geoff Hunt.","description":"L20. Agamemnon Opens Fire on the Ca Ira, 13th March 1795 by Geoff Hunt. \u003cp\u003e  Like most Royal Navy officers of his time, Nelsons continuing career was subject to the vicissitudes of the Services operational needs. After paying off Boreas in 1787 Nelson spent five years on the beach in his native Norfolk.  In the winter of 1792, it looked as though, at last, Revolutionary France would declare war on England. To Nelsons delight, his endless entreaties to the Admiralty finally bore fruit. On 7th January 1793 he was appointed to command HMS Agamemnon. Nelson looked forward to his new command with enthusiasm. He was 34 years old, mature, experienced, with 14 years seniority on the post list and he had spent much of the last five years thinking about naval tactics. If Nelson was in the prime of life then so also was Agamemnon. Built twelve years previously, of New Forest Oak, she was launched at Bucklers Hard on the river Beaulieu in Hampshire and was, unusually at that time, for the technique was then still quite new, copper-bottomed. In 1793 Agamemnon was, for her size, one of the fastest warships afloat anywhere. Her 64 guns made her technically a thirdrate, by this date the smallest type to appear in the line of battle. Once in commission, Nelson decided that her size did not matter: far more importantly, she sailed well, and her strength and speed would offer opportunities a larger vessel might miss. It was said, she could outsail anything she could not outgun and outgun anything she could not outsail.  As far as possible, Nelson recruited his crew from volunteers in Norfolk where he was well-known and which anyway had the reputation for producing fine seamen. The high proportion of volunteers undoubtedly contributed to the effectiveness of a ship that was to become renowned for its fighting efficiency. After a brief interlude of Channel patrols Agamemnon was soon despatched to the Mediterranean to serve under the command of Admiral Lord Hood. France had finally declared war on England on 1st February.  For the next three years Nelson and Agamemnon served with distinction in a variety of naval operations in the Mediterranean. A happy ship, devoted to their Captain, Agamemnon was never far from the action. As might be expected with Nelson in command, many of the actions were somewhat unconventional. Perhaps the most notable of these was his involvement in the amphibious campaign in Corsica which finally resulted in the capture of Calvi. The incident portrayed in Geoff Hunts painting took place on 13th March 1795. By this time Lord Hood had been succeeded by Vice-Admiral Hotham as Commander-in-Chief in the Mediterranean. Hothams hesitancy and caution did not endear him to Nelson. The blockade of Toulon, a central part of British naval strategy, continued under Hotham who on 6th March ordered part of the fleet to pursue seventeen enemy ships of the line and five smaller ships that had been observed emerging from Toulon, bound for Corsica. Poor winds handicapped the pursuit but at dawn on 13th March the British fleet found itself twelve miles from a retreating enemy with Agamemnon, the fastest ship in the fleet, pulling away from the rest except for Captain Fremantles Inconstant. The French might have escaped altogether but one of their 80-gun sIrips of the line - the Ca Ira - had been in collision with another and lost her fore and main topmasts. The Inconstant, a frigate of only 36 guns, engaged the Ca Ira but had to withdraw badly damaged. Agamemnon, now several miles ahead of the rest of the fleet, was the next to engage. By this rime the Ca Ira was in tow by the Vestale and was protected by two other ships of the line - one of 74, the other of 120 guns.  Nelsons technique of dealing with the far larger Ca Ira which Nelson described as absolutely large enough to have taken the Agamemnon in her hold was to attack her from the stern so that the Ca Ira could never bring either of her devastating broadsides to bear. However, considerable damage was done by her stern chasers. Nelson had not intended to fire until he was almost touching the Ca Ira but he changed his mind, allowing Agamemnon to bear away from the line of pursuit so that her broadside could be fired. It is precisely this moment that is portrayed in the painting.  For 2 and a half  hours Agamemnon slowly closed on the Ca Ira in the light airs, slowed only by bearing away to fire her broadside. Although Agamemnon was constantly hit by the accurate stern chaser fire from Ca Ira and her sails and rigging considerably damaged none of the ships crew were killed although some were wounded. The Ca Ira, on the other hand, was hit constantly by the double-shotted broadsides and suffered heavy casualties.  By 1pm the signal of recall had been hoisted by Hotham and to Nelsons great irritation the Ca Ira was allowed to escape. She was captured next day by a larger force of British ships but Nelson was appalled at Hothams decision not to continue his pursuit of the main fleet. Absolutely in the horrors, as he described it, he heard Admiral Hotham say: We must be contented: we have done very well. In a further letter about the action Nelson spelled out his own ambition: I wish to be an Admiral, and in command of the English fleet. I should very soon either do much, or be ruined. My disposition cannot bear tame and slow measures.  \u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Signed limited edition of 850 prints. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Image size 17 inches x 23 inches (43cm x 58cm)\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Military Aviation Art Prints","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54136093868365,"sku":null,"price":120.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0810\/5449\/9149\/files\/2026NEWli0020.jpg?v=1781873114"},{"product_id":"boreas-in-the-west-indies-march-1787-by-geoff-hunt","title":"Boreas in the West Indies March 1787 by Geoff Hunt.","description":"L21.  Boreas in the West Indies March 1787 by Geoff Hunt. \u003cp\u003e On 18th March 1784, Nelson was extremely lucky to be appointed to command HMS Boreas. The previous September, the Treaty of Versailles had ended the American War of Independence and many naval officers anticipated an extended period on the beach. Perhaps through political influence, Nelson was singled out for the command of the 28-gun frigate Boreas which was destined for a commission in the West Indies. The frigate was the most glamorous warship type in the navy.  Although not heavily gunned, it was fast enough to evade larger enemies. It was likely to be given an independent role, whilst ships of the line normally operated in fleets off the enemy coast. The frigate often fought singleship actions against enemy frigates and these were followed avidly by the press and public. Successful frigate captains had something of the image of top-scoring fighter pilots in the Second World War and a few achieved great fame and riches derived from prize money. The frigate was designed with an unarmed lower deck so that its guns were well above the water line, this meant that it could be allowed to heel quite considerably and carry sail in strong wind and heavy seas. On occasion frigates made fourteen knots, making them the fastest ships in the navy. The frigate was used for convoy escort, commerce raiding and patrols. They were also the eyes of the battle fleet.  Nelsons time with Boreas, his only peacetime commission, came close to being professional suicide although on all occasions Nelson had, strictly speaking, been in the right. He also found himself being sued for 40,000 pounds, something of a problem for a man whose full pay was 260 pounds a year!  Before Boreas arrived on station, she had to make the long voyage across the Atlantic carrying passengers with government connections as was common at this time. Amongst the passengers was Lady Hughes, the wife of a senior naval officer with whom he was later to clash, but who provided good company on the voyage. Very much later she wrote about her experiences on Boreas. She observed, with considerable insight, Nelsons leadership abilities, particularly in regard to the many young midshipmen on board, some of whom might have been as young as 12 or 13. She wrote:  Among such a number, it may reasonably be supposed there must have been timid spirits, as well as bold. The timid he never rebuked, but always wished to show them he desired nothing that he would not instantly do himself. and I have known him say, Well, sir, I am going a race to the mast-head, and beg I may meet you there. No denial could be given to such a request, and the poor little fellow instantly began to climb the shrouds. Captain Nelson never took the least notice in what manner it was done, but when they met in the top, spoke in the most cheerful terms to the midshipman, and observed how much any person was to be pitied who could fancy there was any danger, or even anything disagreeable in the attempt. After this excellent example, I have seen the same youth who before was so timid, lead another in like manner, and repeat his commanders words.  The main problems he encountered in the West Indies, which made the next nine months on the station wretched and frustrating for him, were caused by the newly found independence of the American colonies which were, under the English Navigation Acts, no longer allowed to trade with British colonies, including those that were close at hand in the West Indies. Nelson later described the problem he faced: The Americans, when colonists, possessed almost all the trade from America to our West India islands, on the return to peace (after the War of Independence) they forgot, on this occasion, they became foreigners, and of course had no right to trade in the British colonies. But of course they were trading, and no one was trying to stop them: Our Governors and Custom-house Officers pretended that by the Navigation Act they had a right to trade, and all the West Indians wished that was so much in their interest. Nelson found he was senior captain on the station and he took his responsibility seriously. He knew the trade was illegal and was determined to stop it. Admiral Hughes was in overall command but he was a weak man and turned a blind eye to the local trade with America. Nelson declined to do this and the result was a confrontation, not just with Hughes but the local traders, including the islanders of Nevis who banded together to sue him for the trade he had lost them. Although Nelson was vindicated by the Admiralty the legal ramifications took years to sort out.  If the island of Nevis brought him a very disagreeable legal action, it also brought him a wife. One might surmise that his somewhat impetuous decision to marry was prompted, to some extent, by the loneliness and unhappiness the commission had brought him. Frances Nisbet was a widow of 27, with a five-year-old son, Josiah. Her father had been a judge on the island, her husband, the familys doctor, had succumbed to the very tropical diseases he was called on so often to treat. When Nelson met her she was keeping house for her uncle, John Richardson Herbert, a rich local landowner and politician. Nelsons courtship of Fanny Nisbet was carried out largely by letter as Boreas carried out her duties throughout the West Indies. The marriage took place at John Herberts house, Mompelier, on 11 th March 1787, the best man being Lieutenant Digby Dent of the Boreas.  Geoff Hunts painting shows Boreas on passage to Nevis in the spring of 1787, the ship and her crew enjoying the warm weather and steady prevailing winds. It was no hardship to be a masthead lookout in such conditions.  \u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSigned limited edition of 850 prints. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Image size 17 inches x 23 inches (43cm x 58cm)\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Military Aviation Art Prints","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54136093901133,"sku":null,"price":120.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0810\/5449\/9149\/files\/2026NEWli0021.jpg?v=1781873115"}],"url":"https:\/\/militaryaviationartprints.com\/collections\/artist-geoff-hunt.oembed","provider":"Military Aviation Art Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}