Talk:Thomas Bladen Capel

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HMS Meleager

According to the article, "It was in the Alecto that Capel began the campaign for which he would later become most famous, his daring frigate actions and raids along the Spanish coast, which he continued to perform as he was upgraded into the frigate HMS Meleager (which was unfortunately wrecked)".
The information I have says that the Meleager was wrecked in the Gulf of Mexico, so Capel was a long way of course if he was attacking the Spanish coast. Furthermore, I believe that prior to this he was in command of Arab on the West India station. I am in the middle of revamping this article and will be changing this information shortly so I would be interested if anyone has any information supporting the current statement.--Ykraps (talk) 14:27, 28 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]

I'm afraid that the statement you quote above is erroneous. To the best of my knowledge, Capel only commanded the Alecto very briefly, in late 1798 to early January 1799, and then only while she was serving as a guardship at Lymington; I have no knowledge of this elderly fireship being employed on service overseas during the French Revolutionary War. Certainly he was then transferred on 5 January from her into the post-ship Arab, which sailed under his command for Jamaica on 23 April 1799. On 19 July 1800 he transferred to command of the Meleager, still in the West Indies, and she was, as you state, wrecked in the Gulf of Mexico (near Veracruz) on 9 June 1801. Rif Winfield (talk) 16:15, 28 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks Rif, that seems to fit with the info I have. I'll continue with the article anon.--Ykraps (talk) 20:49, 28 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]

More erroneous information?

The article also claims, "this nepotism enabled him to rise rapidly through the ranks when he finally did go to sea in 1792, aged sixteen". My information places him aboard HMS Assistance on the Newfoundland station in 1783. As the claim in the article is unreferenced, I am removing it. Again, anyone with reliably referenced info, please come forward.--Ykraps (talk) 19:32, 29 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Capel was born 23 August 1776, and entered the Navy on 22 March 1782 (aged 5 years 7 months) as Captain's servant aboard the Phaeton) (Captain Waldegrave), on the books of which ship he was carried until April 1783. He ultimately embarked, 12 April 1792, on board the Assistance, then stationed off Newfoundland. He became a Midshipman on 1 March 1793 aboard the Syren (Captain John Manley). Reference William O'Byrne's Naval Biographical Dictionary, Volume 1. I am unhappy with the reference to 'nepotism' as there was nothing unusual in Capel's rapid promotion; yes, it was due to family "influence", but that was very much standard practice at the time and many officers (including Nelson) received rapid promotion as a result of similar influence, so Capel should not be singled out for mention. Incidentally, please note that I have corrected the erroneous reference to the Apollo as having only 24 guns, when it should be 38 guns. Rif Winfield (talk) 15:32, 2 January 2011 (UTC)[reply]

I'm not sure I understand the point that sentence was making either so I have reworded it to say 'customary practice'.--Ykraps (talk) 17:54, 4 January 2011 (UTC)[reply]