# Royal Naval Biography/Garrety, James Henry

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JAMES HENRY GARRETY, Esq. [Commander.]
Obtained the rank of lieutenant in May, 1801; commanded the Favorite hired armed cutter, in action with the Flushing flotilla. May 16th, 1804; and lost an arm, whilst gallantly defending the Plumper gun-brig, near Granville, July 16, 1805.
“On the 15th of July,” says Mr. James, “the gun-brgs Plumper and Teazer” (the latter commanded by Lieutenant George Lewis Kerr), “while cruising off the port of Granville, found themselves becalmed, and likely to be carried into danger by the strength of the tide. They therefore anchored near the island of Chausey, but, owing to the exigency of the moment, at too great a distance apart to benefit by any mutual support, in the event of being attacked before a breeze sprang up. The critical situation of these brigs being plainly seen from Granville, which was ​not four leagues distant, Capitaine Louis Léon Jacob, commanding the several divisions of the flotilla that were assembled between Saint-Malo and Cherbourg, resolved to send some gun-vessels to attempt the capture of them. Accordingly, as soon as it grew dark, seven of the largest class of French gun-vessels, armed each with three long 24-pounders and an 8-inch howitzer, and amply supplied with men and musketry, swept out of the port, under the command of Capitaine Joseph Collet. On the 16th, at 2-30 a.m., they arrived within long range of the Plumper, and opened a fire upon her from their heavy long guns; taking such a safe position, as they advanced, that the brig’s 18-pounder carronades could only at intervals be brought to bear upon them. In the course of half an hour Lieutenant Garrety, who from the first had conducted himself in the bravest manner, had his arm shot away; but he continued, for some time, to animate his men in repulsing the enemy. At length, at the end of an hour’s cannonade, from which she had greatly suffered in hull and crew, the Plumper surrendered.
“Having shifted their prisoners and manned the prize, the French rested at an anchor, until the tide turned again in their favour at 6 a.m.; when, accompanied by the Plumper, they weighed, and stood for her late consort. At 8-45, the seven French gun-vessels and their prize commenced firing at the Teazer; who, at 9 a.m., cut her cable, and, setting all sail, tried to escape. But the calm continuing, the brig made little or no progress; and her opponents soon surrounded and captured her. The British loss on this occasion has been noticed nowhere but in the French accounts. By these it appears that the two brigs had, including Lieutenant Garrety, seventeen men badly wounded, the greater part on board the Plumper; but, with respect to the killed, which probably amounted to four or five, no intelligence was obtained. The loss on board the French gun-vessels appears to have amounted to five men wounded, including Captain Collet; who, on the afternoon of the same day, entered Granville with his two prizes.”
On the 5th of Feb. 1806, a pension was granted to Lieutenant Garrety, the amount of which, at the time of his death, was 200l. per annum. On the 3d of May, 1811, he was promoted to the rank of commander; and in Jan. 1812, appointed to the Parthian sloop, on the North Sea station. He married a sister of Lieutenant Joseph G. H. Gramshaw, R.N.; and died in the year 1827.