Everything about Philip Broke totally explained
Rear Admiral Sir Philip Bowes Vere Broke, 1st Baronet KCB (
9 September 1776 –
2 January 1841) was a distinguished officer in the
British Royal Navy.
Early life
Broke was born at Broke Hall,
Nacton, near
Ipswich, the eldest son of Philip Bowes Broke. He attended
Ipswich School where a house has now been named in his honour.
Naval career
Broke joined the
Royal Naval Academy at
Portsmouth Dockyard in 1788, and began active service as a
midshipman in 1792. It was rather unusual for him to receive formal naval education — most of his contemporaries had only "on the job" training. He served as Third Lieutenant on the frigate
HMS Southampton during the
Battle of Cape St. Vincent in February 1797. He was promoted to
Commander in 1799 and
Captain in 1801.
He married Sarah Louisa Middleton on
25 November 1802. They had 11 children.
Capture of USS Chesapeake
His most notable accomplishment was his victory while commanding
HMS Shannon, over the
USS Chesapeake on
1 June 1813, during the
War of 1812. Broke took command of the
Shannon, a 38-gun
frigate, on
31 August 1806. Broke was ordered to
Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1811 as the diplomatic position between America and Britain deteriorated.
US President James Madison declared war on
18 June 1812. There were half a dozen naval battles between a Royal Naval and a
United States Navy vessel of equivalent rate in 1812 and early 1813. The Americans won every time. This changed when
Shannon defeated
Chesapeake as it attempted to evade the
blockade of
Boston, Massachusetts. Although
Chesapeake carried 49 guns and had a substantially larger crew, gunnery was Broke's area of expertise, and the crew of
Shannon were exceptionally well drilled.
Chesapeake was disabled by gunfire, boarded and captured within 15 minutes of opening fire. 56 sailors on
Chesapeake were killed, including its Captain,
James Lawrence, and 85 wounded. Lawrence's last words were reported to be the command, "Don't give up the ship". On the
Shannon, 24 were killed and 59 wounded, including Broke who sustained a serious head wound while leading the boarding party.
Shannon's victory created a sensation in the US and the UK. In recognition, Broke was created a
Baronet on
25 September 1813. He became a
Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath on
3 January 1815. He was also awarded a
Naval Gold Medal, one of only eight awarded for single ship actions between 1794 and 1816. While his wounds precluded further active service, Broke served as a
naval gunnery specialist in the Royal Navy. He was promoted to Rear Admiral of the Red on
22 July 1830.
His younger brother, Charles Broke, later
Charles Broke Vere, joined the
British Army, serving under the
Duke of Wellington, ending up as a
Major General and was
knighted.
Broke in Fiction
A fictionalized account of
Shannon's battle with
Chesapeake is featured prominently in
Patrick O'Brian's novels
The Fortune of War and
The Surgeon's Mate. Broke appears as a character in the former work, and receives prominent mention in the second.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Philip Broke'.
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