CAPTAIN JOHNSTON BLAKELY
Courtesy of the Blakeney/Blakley Family Association

Johnston Blakely was born near the village of Seaford, Co. Down, Northern Ireland in 1781. Two years later, his father, John Blakely emigrated to the United States, and after residing in Philadelphia for a few months, left for Charleston, South Carolina with the idea that he would engage in business there. He encountered little encouragement, however, in Charleston and finally moved to Wilmington in North Carolina for more favourable prospects. Shortly after he arrived there, however, his wife and children all perished, with the exception of his son Johnston. He was then enduced to send his only surviving son to New York to preserve his health and to afford him an opportunity of acquiring an education. In the year 1890, Johnston was committed to the care of one, Mr Hoope, a respectable merchant of that place and an old friend of his father. Here he remained for five years, pursuing his studies; at the end of which time he returned to Wilmington.

It was the intention of his father to bring him up to law, and, in 1796, he was placed in the University of North Carolina, situated at Chapel Hill. While studying there, a year later, his father passed away. Without a relative in the country to whom he could look for advice, it became necessary for him to choose a guardian. He chose Mr Jones, an eminent lawyer of Wilmington. He remained at college until sometime in the year 1799, when, by some misfortune, he was deprived of the support derived from his late father and was compelled to relinquish his studies at the University, as well as his intention of practising law.

Through the friendly exertions of Mr Jones, he obtained a midshipman's warrant and, on the 5th of February 1800, he joined the United States Navy.

In a letter sent while he was aboard the U.S. Brig 'Enterprise', on the 9th of May 1811, "I hope the last Blakely who exists will lay down his life ere he tarnish the reputation of those who have gone before him. My father's memory is very dear to me, and I trust that his son will never cast a reproach on it."

On the 28th of January 1814, he again writes "I shall ever view as one of the most unfortunate events of my life, having quitted the 'Enterprise' at the moment I did. Had I remained in her a fortnight longer, My name may have been classed with those who stand so high".

Johnston Blakely had a very successful career in the U.S. Navy. He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 10th of February 1807, and subsequently made a Commander on the 24th of July 1813. He made Captain on the 24th of November 1814. He served in the Mediterranean Squadron on the ships, 'President', 'John Adams' and 'Congress', and he took part in the operations of Squadron before Tripoli. He had commandered the 'Enterprise' from 1811 to 1813 on which he cruised off the coast of the United States, capturing the armed schooner 'Fly'. When he was commissioned a Master Commandant in 1813, he was given command of the Sloop-of-war 'Wasp'. The 'Wasp' was the fifth of that name, which had been constructed in 1814 at Newburyport, Massachussets and commishioned in early 1814. She put out to sea on the 1st of May, 1814, for a war cruise to the western approaches of the English Channel, and captured his first vessel, the 207 ton brig, 'Neptune', on the 2nd of June. They embarked their crew as prisoners and burned the prize at sea. Eleven days later he took the 'William', a 93 ton brig, and burned her as well. On the 18th, the 'Wasp' encountered the 131 ton armed brig, 'Pallas' and captured her, apparently without resistance, and scuttled her. As a fourth victim, Blakely took on the 23rd, a 171 ton Galliot, 'Henrietta'. Three days later the 325 ton ship, 'Orange Boven', was captured and scuttled.

On the 28th of June, the 'Wasp' came upon the 21-gun sloop-of-war 'Reindeer', some 225 miles west of Plymouth, England, and brought her to battle. The fight only lasted 19 minutes but during that brief span of time the two ships traded a murderous fire of great and solid shot. The action ended in the capture of the 'Reindeer' with a loss of 21 Americans killed and wounded. The British lost 67 men. The 'Reindeer' was cut to pieces and it was impossible to save her. She was accordingly set afire.

Editor: This article was continued in issue No.22 that will be appearing shortly!