Who is the Admiral Benbow

• Who is the Admiral Benbow

Captain Flint, whose name appears in the famous adventure novel, never existed. Its author is simply invented by creating a character in the manner of Frankenstein - a patchwork of characters of real pirates. Meanwhile, in the same novel, almost invisibly present a real person, whose name speaks little Russian reader, but an English admirer uglyadite this fact Victorian fine irony. And she was really there.

The plot of "Treasure Island" begins to unwind in the tavern "Admiral Benbow". And in order to understand the poignancy of the situation, it should be a little deal with the biography of this great and fearless Admiral who has done much to Britain became the mistress of the seas do.

John Benbow was born in the family tanner Shropshire Council. The land is, to put it mildly, the sea is not rich, although a couple of navigable rivers available. And it is the county famous for the fact that they drink it most in the UK, ahead of even the vice of bad Irish. In British folklore shropshirets necessarily endowed with a violent and uncontrollable temper. Actually, John all these characteristics correspond to the full. And in terms of buynosti courage and, perhaps, even to go to far.

Tannery, as you know, very odorous. And because Benbow Jr. strove to go somewhere closer to the sea - ships, of course, at that time, too, it smelled badly, but it had at least the hope of a breeze. As a result, he still came to the Royal Navy. A sailor. And the hardships of life did not seem to the future admiral something exceptional - in his father's workshop had to deal with far less pleasant substances.

John Benbow by Godfrey Kneller

Defective sailor attracted to someone of the senior officers, who undertook to teach the navigator of the case. But participation in the battles near the shores of Turkey and Africa (mainly with the pirates) have added the necessary practical skills. So the question of the appointment of John Benbow officer was only a matter of time. And for 36 years in the former tanner he had command of the most important mast frigate. And it would be a serviceable navy on, yes there is bad King James II decided that it should gradually get rid of the Protestants, and to return to the bosom of the Catholic Church. So John Benbow put ashore. That's just where he sat for a long time - an experienced and courageous seaman hired captain of a merchant ship. And it has paid off. Using a rich military past and knowing the difficulties of commercial navigation in the southern regions, the captain amassed Benbow and his team trained at military fashion. And this educational pattern soon gave significant dividends. Once, in one of the trips to the coast of Spain on the outwardly harmless merchant was attacked by a pirate vessel, which is due to the nature craft had a very numerous team. So well done Benbow with a smaller crew managed to repel the rapists, to seize their ship as a prize, and all the unlucky passionaries simply killed. Then, according to the captain's orders, the body was beheaded and thrown into the sea. Well head pickled in a pair of drums.

Upon returning to his native London Port Captain John Benbow was this salt load in Admiralty and dumped on the stone floor in front of the surprised Lords (which is an understatement), showing his victory and demanding that the put premium award for the fight against piracy. The award, by the way, was paid to the shilling and without wrangling - evidence was strong and unbreakable.

Battle pirates. Artist: Jean-Léon Gérôme Ferris

When mass riots threw James out of politics, Benbow returned to military service - is immediately to the rank of captain. He rides the French privateers and sea, and in coastal areas, showing the terrible persistence and courage. Soon it increases the rank and appointed to command the royal docks.

Actually, in a commercial vein captain struggled all military service and from time to time to show. Although it is considered quite normal then - the practice of taking the enemy ships as prizes and selling them to the treasury then flourished. But John Benbow embodied slightly different scheme.

At that time, he arrived in London Russian delegation headed by Peter Alekseevich. And the most spacious and comfortable accommodation near the industrial zone turned out to be just the house of Admiral Benbow. And the Russian, in three months the visit managed to spread and usvinyachit housing beyond recognition. However, other modern conspiracy theorists argue that the interiors Porush British workers, which allegedly drunk Russian lured to his residence - to ferret out secrets. Here are just a Peter the Great, no refinement, no sobriety of behavior did not differ, as carriers of information required Russian workers were not - our studied the theory, which can only give engineers. In general, the then British do not even doubt that the house was spoiled Russian - version with industrial espionage arose much later. So John Benbow royal treasury paid huge compensation (by the standards) at 350 pounds with a tail (the tail was 9 shillings) for the loss of the situation and of the glass.

Linear "Master and Commander" - one of the ships of the XVII century, which commanded the Benbow. Artist: Hendrik Cornelisz Vroom

From time to time Admiral "shook the old days", going into the season pinching Spanish and French convoys - old sea fun British sailors. So in 1702 it started as a commercial enterprise with elements of war game. That's just the captains imparted to Benbow into submission, hit the post thanks to the patronage of relatives and of noble birth. And as a consequence, 3He had no military or maritime experience.

Seven battleships of the British met with four linear and one French frigate. And the four (!) Of the English captains refused to join the battle! As a result, three ships Benbow attacked five French. And even in this position Benbow decided to take the fight - he hated the French the most perfect of all possible hatred.

The battle comes down to endless maneuvers and exchanging volleys lasted five days. British flagship yet taken in girth and fired "two fire". Heavily damaged rigging and hull. A very core of Admiral smote leg. Her hastily shook their towel and a brave sailor went on to lead the fight, staying on the quarterdeck. According to the results of the battle the French went into hiding! Here are just three of the four captains abandoned again disobeyed orders and refused to pursue the enemy.

Admiral died of sepsis on the way to home port, and rebellious captains judged immediately on the scene - in Jamaica. The one who at the last moment tried to pursue the beaten French spared. And two of the other three were shot, and one rot in jail. And intercession high relatives did not help - it just is not ripe for the removal of the court and the metropolis.