# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Brenton, John

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​BRENTON, K.S.V. (Captain, 1822. f-p., 16; h-p., 33.)
John Brenton was born 28 Aug. 1782.
This officer entered the Navy, 28 Aug. 1798, as A.B., on board the Asia 64, Capt. Robt. Murray, bearing the flag at Halifax of Vice-Admiral Geo. Vandeput, in which ship he attained the rating of Midshipman a few days afterwards, and returned home with convoy in Dec. 1800. He then in succession joined the Assistance 50, Capts. Robt. Hall and Rich. Lee, employed in the North Sea in blockading the Dutch fleet, and Caesar 80, Capt. Jahleel Brenton, flag-ship of Sir Jas. Saumarez, under whom he participated, 6 July, 1801, in the battle off Algeciras, and, on 12 of the same month, in the destruction of two Spanish first-rates and capture of a French 74 in the Gut of Gibraltar. He was next, as Acting-Lieutenant, present at the evacuation of Minorca, consequent on the treaty of Amiens; and, from that period until Dec. 1805, served with Rear-Admiral Sir Rich. Hussey Bickerton, as Midshipman, Master’s Mate, and again as Acting-Lieutenant, in the Kent 74, Royal Sovereign 100, and Queen 98, into which latter ship Lord Collingwood shifted his flag after the battle of Trafalgar. Having been intermediately attached to the Nautilus sloop, Capt. John Sykes, Mr. Brenton was, in March, 1806, appointed to the San Ildefonso, Capt. John Quilliam, one of the Spanish third-rates taken at Trafalgar, to assist in navigating her to England. He was not, however, ofiicially promoted until 5 Sept. 1806, when,- after a further servitude, as Acting-Lieutenant, in the Hibernia 110, bearing the flag of Earl St. Vincent, and London 98, Capt. Thos. Western, both in the Channel, he was confirmed into the Orion 74, Capt. Edw. Codrington, off Cadiz. From 17 Jan. 1807, until July, 1812, we next find him employed in the San Josef 110, Hibernia 110, Diomede 50, and Victory 100, all flag-ships of his friend Sir Jas. Saumarez, on the Channel, Guernsey, and Baltic stations. On 14 of the latter month Capt. Brenton, to whom had been awarded the rank of Acting-Commander, was despatched, in conjunction with Capt. Hew Steuart, to aid the Russian Admiral Muller in fitting out a flotilla of gun-boats for the protection of Riga. For his meritorious conduct in the discharge of the duties which there devolved on him, including an expedition against the French and Prussians at Mittau, on the river Aa, he received the sanction of the Admiralty to his promotion by commission dated 20 Nov. in the same year. He subsequently, from 27 June, 1814, until paid off, 14 Nov. 1815, commanded the 14-gun brig Hasty, on the North Sea and Irish stations; and, on 26 Dec. 1822, was advanced to his present rank. He was placed upon retired half-pay 1 Oct. 1846.
Capt. Brenton, whose services at Mittau were rewarded with the insignia of a Knight of the Russian order of St. Vladamir, of the fourth class, married, 28 Sept. 1815, his cousin, Henrietta, daughter of the late Rear-Admiral Jahleel Brenton, and sister of Vice-Admiral Sir Jahleel Brenton, Bart., K.C.B., and of Capt. Edw. Pelham Brenton, R.N.
* ↑ Sir Jahleel Brenton waa born 32 Aug, 1770. He served, as Lieut, of the Barfleur 98, in the action off Cape St. Vincent, 14 Feb. 1797; commanded the Caesar 80, Sir James Saumarez’ flag-ship, on the memorable 6 and 12 July, 1801; was wrecked and taken prisoner in La Minervr, off Cherbourg, 2 July, 1803; and, after assisting at the reduction of the Ionian Islands, gained, as Capt. of the Spartan, of 46 guns and 258 men, a brilliant and single-handed victory over a Franco-Neapolitan squadron, carrying altogether 95 guns and about 1400 men, 3 May, 1610. The Patriotic Society, in acknowledgment of the latter exploit, in the execution of which Capt. Brenton was desperately wounded, voted him a sword valued at 100l.; the King of the Two Sicilies presented him with the Grand Cross of St. Ferdinand and of Merit; and his own Sovereign raised him to the dignity of a baronet, besides conferring on him the K.C.B. He afterwards discharged the duties of Resident Commissioner at the Cape of Good Hope, and of Lieut.-Governor of Greenwich Hospital, and died a Vice-Admiral of the White, 21 April, 1844.
* ↑ Capt. Edward Pelham Brenton’s services were of an arduous and useful rather than of a splendid character. He was born 19 July, 1774; entered the Navy in Nov. 1788; attained Post-rank 13 Dec. 1808; and died 6 April, 1839. His ‘Naval History of Great Britain,’ and his ‘Life of St. Vincent,’ are well known. Capt, Brenton enjoyed the reputation of a philanthropist.