Presentation by Heather Noel-Smith and Lorna M. Campbell for the Press Gangs, Conscripts and Professionals Conference, National Museum of the Royal Navy, September 2013.

1. Merchant Adventurers
Alex McVicar and John McKerlie of the
Indefatigable
By
Heather Noel-Smith
and
Lorna M. Campbell
Press Gangs, Conscripts and Professionals Conference, National Museum of the Royal
Navy, Portsmouth, 6th – 7th Sept 2013

2. Introduction
HMS Indefatigable Joining the Western Squadron by J.T. Serres, 1800, www.christies.com.

3. Captain Sir
Edward Pellew
Edward Pellew, 1st Viscount Exmouth,
by James Northcote,
© National Portrait Gallery.

4. The Droits de L’Homme Engagement
Destruction of the Droits de L’Homme by Ebenezer Colls, © National Maritime Museum.

5. The Droits de L’Homme Engagement
Vaisseau Droits de l’Homme by Leopold le Guen, public domain image.

6. The Droits de L’Homme Engagement
Muster table of His Majesty’s Ship the Indefatigable between 1st January and 28th February 1797, ©
The National Archives.

7. Alex McVicar, born Leith, 1768
Leith Pier and Harbour by J Waddell, © Peter Stubbs, www.edinphoto.org.uk, used with permission.

9. Fleetwood Pellew on Alex McVicar
Annotations to Osler’s Life of Admiral Lord Exmouth, private collection.
“Capt Bell and Capt Thomas Groube
were both taken from a West Indiaman.
Capts Gaze and McVicar the same
(merchant vessels).”

10. John McKerlie, born Glenluce,
Wigtonshire, 1775
Wigtonshire, W. H. Lizars, Edinburgh

11. The Arethusa Frigate Scudding Under Foresail in a Storm, © National Maritime Museum.
HMS Arethusa

12. The Western Squadron
The Western Squadron leaving Falmouth by Derek G M Gardner, © Bonhams.

13. Captain Sir
John Borlase
Warren
Sir John Borlase Warren,
by M. Oates,
© National Maritime Museum.

14. The Command of the Ocean by N.A.M. Rodger
“…the disappointed midshipmen,
embittered and often hard drinking
men in their thirties or even forties
who had hoped and failed to get a
commission.”

15. Midmn to 7th June 1796 then Mr’s Mate to
4th Septr then Midsmn to 27th Sept 96
then Mastr’s Mate to 30th Oct 1796 then
Mid to 11th Decr 96 then Mr’s Mate
Muster table of His Majesty’s Ship the Indefatigable between the 1st of January and the 28th of
February 1797 © The National Archives.

16. Qr Gr to the 1st Jany 97 then school
mastr
Muster table of His Majesty’s Ship the Indefatigable between the 1st of January and the 28th of
February 1797 © The National Archives.

17. Muster table of His Majesty’s Ship the Indefatigable between the 1st of January and the 28th of
February 1797 © The National Archives.

18. A British Vessel Taking a Prize, by E.B. Eagles, 1805 © The National Maritime Museum.

19. Nicholas
Pateshall
Nicholas Lechmere Pateshall,
circle of Domenico Pellegrini,
© Sotheby’s.

20. Nicholas
Pateshall to
Edmund
Pateshall
Nicholas Pateshall to Edmund
Pateshall, 20th January 1797,
© Herefordshire Archives.

21. Nicholas Pateshall to Edmund Pateshall
“The most valuable of our prizes
which I mentioned in my last was
retaken by a French privateer within
5 miles of Falmouth in which I lost
a worthy messmate and two other
midshipmen.”
Nicholas Pateshall to Edmund Pateshall, 20th January 1797, © Herefordshire Archives.

22. Muster of His Majesty’s Ship the Phoebe, June 1797, © The National Archives.
French Cartell
belonging to
Indefatigable
Jas Bray
Alexr McVicar
Wm Brenton
D
D 13 Jun
D

23. George John, 2nd
Earl Spencer.
First Lord of the
Admiralty,
1794 - 1801
George John, 2nd Earl Spencer,
by John Singleton Copely,
© National Portrait Gallery.

26. The Public Schools Historical Atlas by C. Colbek, 1905.

27. Earl Spencer to Sir Edward Pellew
Dear Sir
The Vacancy for lieutenant in the Thames having been officially
reported the board have filled it accordingly and had this not been
the case Mr McKerlie not having passed the usual examination it
would not have been in my power to comply with your wishes in
that gentleman’s behalf but I shall have great pleasure in doing so as
soon after he is qualified and I can find a proper opening for him.
I am dear Sir Edward,
your very obedient humble servant.
Spencer.
Admiralty 7 August 1800
Earl Spencer to Captain Sir Edward Pellew, 7th August 1800, © National Maritime Museum

28. “McKerlie you have lost one hand
already, and if you loose the other you
will not have anything to wipe your
b******* with; you will remain on board
with the first lieutenant and fight the
ship as she is to engage an 8-gun
battery.”
Royal Naval Biography, Supplement, Part III by John Marshall

29. Alex McVicar to Evan Nepean,
Leith, 4th June 1802
© The National Archives
Alex McVicar
to
Evan Nepean

30. Caledonian Mercury, December 2, 1802

31. M Vicar Alexr McVicar Lieut of the
Navy & Margt Reid Daugr to Alexr Reid
Mercht Leith Gave up their Names for
Marriage
Old Parish Records Marriages, Cannongate, 11th April 1803, © Scotland’s People.

32. The Lancaster Gazette, 21st October 1809.

33. Leith – Edinburgh Dock, Cassells Old and New Edinburgh Illustrated by James Grant © Peter Stubbs,
www.edinphoto.org.uk, used with permission.

34. The Battle of Trafalgar by C. F. Stanfield, public domain image.

35. Thomas Telford
Thomas Telford
By William Raddon after Samuel Lane
© National Portrait Gallery.

36. The Charts and Plans Referred to in the Report from the Committee Appointed to Examine into Mr
Telford’s Report and Survey, 15th June 1809.

37. Walcheren Expedition, unattributed image, http://2ndbattalion84thfoot-
yorkandlancasterregiment.co.uk/

38. The Bombardment of Algiers, George Chambers, 1836, © Royal Museums Greenwich.

39. HMS Vernon in a trail of sailing with the Experimental Squadron, unknown artist, © Royal
Museums Greenwich.

40. “Simply to reach warrant rank was,
socially and financially, to “break
even” by the change, for low pay in
the Navy was counterbalanced by
prize money, half-pay and widow’s
pensions. To reach commissioned
rank was to open new worlds of
honour and profit.”
The Wooden World: An anatomy of the Georgian Navy, by N.A.M. Rodger.

41. “There were certainly many who
achieved modest good fortune in the
Navy, reaching warrant or
commissioned rank without ever
marking a mark in history.”
The Wooden World: An anatomy of the Georgian Navy, by N.A.M. Rodger.

42. HMS Indefatigable Joining the Western Squadron by J.T. Serres, 1800, www.christies.com.

43. Further Information
• Indefatigable1797.wordpress.com
– http://indefatigable1797.wordpress.com
• Heather Noel-Smith
– Heather.noel-smith@sky.com
• Lorna M. Campbell
– Lorna.m.campbell@icloud.com