"H.M.S. Spartan engages a French squadron, Bay of Naples 3rd May, 1810"

Notes on the action: On 1^st May 1810 the British 38-gun frigate Spartan (Captain Jahleel Brenton) and the 32-gun frigate Success, cruising in the Bay of Naples, chased a French force consisting of a frigate, corvette, brig and cutter into harbour at Naples. Captain Brenton realising that the enemy would be more likely to engage one frigate than two, ordered Success back to their rendezvous point off Capri and took Spartan alone into the bay to tempt the French.

The French in turn had made a plan to relieve the British frigates’ blockade of the port, packing 400 Swiss troops into their frigate and corvette and sending out at dawn on the 3^rd May a very strong squadron comprising the frigate Ceres, 42 guns, the corvette Fama, 28, the cutter Achille, 10, and the brig Sparviere, 8. These were backed up by at least seven gun boats, each mounting a long 18-pounder. Including the Swiss troops it is estimated that the French deployed 95 guns and 1400 men against Spartan’s total of 46 guns and 258 men and boys.

Ceres opened fire just before 8 a.m. but Spartan held her fire until able to give Ceres a treble-shotted broadside that caused great loss among the Swiss soldiers who were drawn up on the main deck ready for boarding. Spartan then treated Fama and Sparviere to a broadside each before firing on the smaller ships as well.

At 9 a.m. the breeze died suddenly, leaving Spartan, which had been manoeuvring skilfully, exposed to fire from all sides; at this point Captain Brenton received a serious grapeshot wound in the hip and was carried below leaving Lieutenant George Willes to command the ship.

This major painting by Geoff Hunt shows the moment just after 10 a.m., when Spartan (the breeze having returned) sails through the enemy squadron discharging at the same moment both her broadsides. Having seen off Ceres and Fama, Spartan took Sparviere as a prize. Captain Brenton recovered from his wound and was awarded a Patriotic Fund Sword by Lloyd’s for this exceptionally gallant action.

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