# Royal Naval Biography/Farquhar, Arthur

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ARTHUR FARQUHAR, Esq. A Companion of the Most Honorable Military Order of the Bath; Knight of the Royal Hanoverian Guelphic Order; and Knight of the Swedish Order of the Sword. [Post-Captain of 1805.]
This officer is the sixth son of the late Robert Farquhar of Kincardineshire, N.B. Esq. by Agnes, daughter of James Morison, of Elsich, Esq. who was Provost of Aberdeen in the memorable year 1745, and who particularly distinguished himself at that trying period, by his firm attachment to the illustrious House of Brunswick.
Mr. Arthur Farquhar was born at Newhall, a small paternal estate in the above county, and educated there under a private family tutor. He commenced his naval career in Oct. 1787, and served his time as a Midshipman on board the Lowestoffe frigate, Hyaena of 24 guns, and Alcide 74; the two former employed as cruisers on the Channel, Mediterranean, Milford, and Irish stations; the latter a guard-ship at Portsmouth, commanded by his earliest and principal professional patron, the late Sir Andrew Snape Douglas.
After passing the usual examination for a Lieutenant, Mr. Farquhar was induced to quit the royal navy, and proceed to the East Indies as a free mariner; but he had scarcely arrived there when a war broke out between Great Britain and the French Republic, which caused him to change his plans, and ​seek an opportunity of returning to the King’s service: it was some time, however, before he succeeded in accomplishing his intention.
The first man of war which Mr. Farquhar joined in India was the Hobart, a ship-sloop, commanded by Captain B. W. Page; from which he was soon removed into the Suffolk 74, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Rainier, commander-in-chief on that station. In the early part of 1796, we find him assisting at the capture of the Harlingen, Dutch national brig, of 14 guns and 45 men; also at the reduction of Amboyna and Banda, on which latter service he held the rank of Lieutenant, in a Dutch armed vessel under his command.
Mr. Farquhar subsequently served as a supernumerary Lieutenant on board the above mentioned brig, which had been purchased for government, named the Amboyna, and commissioned by Lieutenant Dobbie. His good conduct as commanding officer of that vessel, when attacked by a large party of Ladrones, near Macao, will be noticed in the memoir already referred to. He was afterwards appointed in succession to the Swift sloop of war, and Carysfort and Heroine frigates, in which latter ship he returned home, as first Lieutenant, under the command of the Hon. John Murray, in July 1798.
From this period, Lieutenant Farquhar appears to have been actively employed in the Superb 74, AEolus 32, and Acasta 40, on the Channel, Mediterranean, Baltic, and North Sea stations, until advanced to the rank of Commander, April 29, 1802.
Captain Farquhar’s first appointment after this promotion was, Jan. 16, 1804, to the Acheron bomb, in which vessel he made a most heroic defence against an enemy of overwhelming superiority, on the 4th Feb. 1805, as will be seen by reference to our memoir of his gallant colleague, Captain Richard Budd Vincent, at p. 917 et seq. of this volume. It is scarcely ​necessary to add the result of his trial by a court-martial assembled on board the Royal Sovereign, in Palma Bay, Sardinia, on the 28th Mar. following. The sentence, however, was of so gratifying and honorable a nature that we cannot refrain from inserting it:–
“The Court is of opinion that on the 3d Feb., Captain Farquhar apprised the Arrow as early as possible of the approach of the enemy, and afterwards obeyed the signals and orders of Captain Vincent, which seem to have been well calculated for the preservation and protection of the convoy entrusted to their care; that on the two enemy’s frigates arriving up with the sloops, on the morning of the 4th., the Acheron gallantly supported the Arrow in action with a very superior force, until the latter wa obliged to strike, when she made sail in an opposite direction to the convoy, and drew the attention of l’Hortense, of 44 guns, to which ship she was ultimately obliged to surrender after being completely disabled, and thereby considerably facilitated the escape of the merchantmen: the Court therefore is further of opinion that the conduct of Captain Farquhar on both days was highly meritorious, and deserving imitation, and that he was bravely supported by the officers and ship’s company on the occasion, and doth most honorably acquit Captain Arthur Farquhar, the officers and company of his Majesty’s late bomb-vessel Acheron, of all blame, and they are hereby most honorably acquitted accordingly.”
After the delivery of this Sentence, the President, Sir Richard Bickerton, Bart., addressed Captain Farquhar in terms to the following effect:–
“Captain Farquhar, I return your sword with the greatest pleasure, and hope you will soon be called upon to serve in a ship that will enable you to meet l’Hortense upon more equal terms the result of the contest may prove more lucrative to you, but it cannot be more honorable.”
Captain Farquhar was promoted to post rank April 8, 1805, and the Committee of the Patriotic Fund subsequently voted him a sword, value 100l., for his noble conduct in the above action. At the commencement of 1806, he attended the public funeral of his late commander-in-Chief, the immortal Nelson: and in the course of the ensuing spring we find him receiving a commission for the Ariadne, rated at 20 guns, in which ship he was employed on the Baltic and North Sea stations, occasionally blockading the German rivers, till Feb. 24, 1809. During this period he captured three French and two Danish privateers, carrying in the whole 44 guns and 216 men. The following letter from the British merchants at Malta was received by him whilst on half pay in April, 1809:–
“Commercial Rooms, la Palette, Malta, 19th Sept. 1808.
“Sir,– We the undersigned Merchants, Underwriters, and others resident in this island, beg leave to express to you the high sense which we entertain of your gallant and judicious assistance in the defence of a valuable convoy, when commanding his Majesty’s bomb-vessel Acheron, and attacked by a far superior force on the 4th Feb., 1805; and as a public testimony of our esteem and respect we beg your acceptance of a piece of plate to commemorate the gallantry and judgment displayed by you on that occasion, nothing short of which could have saved the greatest part of the convoy from falling into the hands of the enemy.
“We beg leave to assure you that our not having offered sooner this just tribute of our regard should not be attributed to a want of due estimation of the important service rendered by you to British commerce.
“The action we wish to commemorate was performed during the infancy of trade in this island; its late rapid increase has collected such a number of regular mercantile establishments as form a respectable united body, whose public testimony we flatter ourselves will now deserve your consideration. Your receiving it after a lapse of nearly four years is perhaps the strongest proof we can offer of your conduct having made such an impression on our minds as cannot be effaced. We have the honor to remain, Sir, your most obedient and faithful servants.”
(Signed by the principals of 36 mercantile establishments, &c.)
In Aug. 1809, Captain Farquhar was appointed to the Desirée frigate; and during the three following years we find him commanding a squadron employed in the blockade of the Texel, on which station he captured four French privateers, carrying 46 guns and 176 men; destroyed a gun-boat and three other armed vessels; and recaptured a Danish bark, laden with timber for Sheerness dock-yard. His subsequent services in the Weser and Elbe were of much greater importance, as will be seen by the following outline.
In Oct. 1813, the Desirée arrived at Heligoland, with 12 gun-boats, and Captain Farquhar immediately assumed the command of a light squadron which had been sent thither in the preceding summer, to open a communication with the Russian commander-in-chief at Hamburgh.
The first measure adopted by Captain Farquhar was to send part of his force to seize two corvettes recently built at Braak, in the Duchy of Oldenburgh, and all other vessels, naval stores, &c. which could be found there belonging to the enemy. This service was most ably performed by Captain ​John M‘Kerlie, of the Calliope, who, with one gun-vessel and a strong division of row-boats, pushed past the French batteries at the mouth of the Weser, proceeded up that river, and secured the corvettes, each pierced for 20 guns, as also two gun-brigs, and several other vessels. On the 30th of the same month, Captain Farquhar landed at Braak, put that town in a state of defence, and commenced a correspondence with the Senate of Bremen, then lately restored to authority.
His next operation was the reduction of the above mentioned batteries (Bremer-lehe and Blexen), by the surrender of which both banks of the Weser were perfectly cleared of the enemy, and the intercourse between Bremen and Great Britain revived, to the great joy of the Senate.
About this period, Captain Farquhar detached a sloop of war and two gun-vessels into the Ems, for the purpose of blockading Delfzyl, a strong fortress on the Dutch side of that river, then about to be besieged by a detachment from the allied army. He then proceeded with the remainder of his squadron, to co-operate in an attack upon the French forts at Cuxhaven, the successful result of which enterprise was reported by him to the late Admiral Sir William Young, in a letter dated Dec. 1, 1813, from which we have taken the following extracts:–
“I have very great pleasure in stating to you, Sir, that in the last ten days the small detachment of Russian troops, commanded by Colonel Radinger, assisted by H.M. squadron under my orders, have succeeded in reducing four strong batteries, consisting of 60 heavy guns, 4 mortars, and 800 officers and men * * * *. These batteries were complete with provisions of all kinds for six weeks, and contained a very considerable quantity of ammunition and military stores of every description.”
The last and most important service performed by Captain Farquhar and his gallant companions was the reduction of Gluckstadt, an extremely strong fortress, which had been several times besieged by powerful armies, but never taken until Jan. 5, 1814; when it surrendered to a division of the ​Crown Prince of Sweden’s army, under the command of Baron de Boyé, and that part of the British squadron then remaining with Captain Farquhar, after an investment of sixteen, and a most effectual bombardment of six days. The allies on this occasion obtained possession of 161 guns, mortars, and howitzers; two magazines containing an immense quantity of ammunition, military stores, &c.; and a flotilla consisting of one brig and seven gun-boats. The total loss sustained by the British, although continually exposed to a heavy fire from 30 pieces of cannon, was only 3 men killed and 16 wounded. The officers mentioned by Captain Farquhar as having particularly distinguished themselves during the siege, were Captains Marshall, Banks, and Rose, of the Shamrock, Blazer, and Hearty sloops; Captain Green, commanding the seamen’s batteries on shore; Lieutenants Kneeshaw, Hanmer, Henderson, Haultain, Archer, Jack, and Sir George Keith; Mr. Riches, Master’s-Mate; and Messrs Hallowes and Richardson, Midshipmen. The opinion entertained by superior authorities of his own exertions will be seen by the subjoined copies of letters from H.R.H. the Crown Prince of Sweden, Admiral Young, and the Hanoverian Minister:–
“Head Quarters, Kiel, 8th Jan. 1814.
“Captain Farquhar,– The King, my Sovereign, having authorised me to confer the Cross of his Military Order of the Sword upon such officers, whether belonging to the Swedish army or to the allied forces, as may distinguish themselves in fighting for the common cause, I cannot make a more worthy use of the power with which his Majesty has been pleased to honor me, than in creating you a Knight of that Order. I transmit to you herewith the decoration so well deserved, by the activity and talents which you displayed at the siege of Gluckstadt, and by which you so largely contributed to the reduction of a fortress that resisted the efforts of one of the most celebrated Generals of the 30 years’ war. I pray God, Captain Farquhar, to take you into his holy keeping.
(Signed)“Charles Jean.”
“Impregnable, in the Roompot, 17th Jan. 1814.
“Sir,– I have received your letters of the 2d and 6th instant, detailing the operations at the attack of Gluckstadt, and the very honorable conclusion of them by the surrender of that place, which it is impossible that I should read without considering the zeal, energy, spirit, and intelligence, with which you have conducted the naval part of these operations, by which a place of such strength, and of such importance, has been so speedily reduced, as deserving the highest commendation; and I have no doubt of ​the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty thinking as highly of your meritorious conduct on this occasion as I do.
(Signed)“W. Young.”
“21, Piccadilly, 31st Dec. 1816.
“Sir,– It gives me very great pleasure to have to inform you that H.R.H. the Prince Regent, in consideration of the very able and distinguished manner in which, in the years 1813 and 1814, you assisted, with the ships then under your command, the forces of his Majesty’s allies in reducing the forts of the enemy on the Elbe and Weser, has been graciously pleased to nominate and appoint you, Sir, a Knight of the Royal Guelphic Order, the decoration of which I shall take an early opportunity of transmitting to you. I remain, Sir, &c.
(Signed)“Munster.”
Captain Farquhar was appointed to the Liverpool, a 40-gun frigate, May 4, 1814; and he continued to command that ship, employed principally on the Cape station, till April 3, 1816, since which period he has been on half-pay. He obtained the insignia of a C.B. in 1815; and was presented with the freedom of Aberdeen, Sept. 22, 1817.
We shall close this sketch with a copy of Lord Exmouth’s report to the Admiralty on the gun-sights suggested by Captain Farquhar, and used by his Lordship’s squadron in the celebrated attack upon Algiers:–
“Queen Charlotte, at Sea, 18th Sept. 1816.
“Sir,– Adverting to your letter of the 13th July last, relative to Brass Sights, suggested by Captain Farquhar for long guns, and which were sent to Portsmouth to be fitted to any guns I might wish, on experiment, I have now the honor to state my approbation on the merits of the project, although I conceive it admits of a very material improvement, by extending the sight as far out as the muzzle ring of the gun. Wooden sights on this principle were titled to all the guns of the squadron by my orders, to which I, in a great measure, ascribe the good effect of their fire in the late engagement. We had a very extensive practice on our voyage out, which afforded me an opportunity to form a deliberate judgment on the utility of the invention; and so perfectly satisfied am I with it, that I should wish to see them cast as fixtures on all the guns to be used for sea service, whenever new ones may be required.
(Signed)“Exmouth.”
“To J. W. Croker, Esq. &c. &c. &c.”
Captain Farquhar married, Aug. 15, 1809, Jane, daughter of James Murray, Esq. of Camvere. By that lady, who died in Oct. 1816, he had four children, two of whom are now living.
Agents.– Messrs Cooke, Halford, and Son.
* ↑ Provost Morison had several narrow escapes during the rebellion. On one occasion he was seized and carried by force to the cross of Aberdeen, where the rebels forced a glass of wine down his throat, to the health of the Pretender. His daughter, Agnes, was the mother of 18 children, five of whom were devoted to H.M. service, viz. Robert, now Purser of the Argonaut, hospital ship at Chatham; James, Surgeon R.N., drowned in 1818; Thomas, an officer in the Guards, deceased; William, a Lieutenant-Colonel, Governor of Sincapore; and Arthur, the subject of this memoir.
* ↑ See note * at p. 54.
* ↑ See memoir of Captain William Hugh Dobbie.
* ↑ Amboyna surrendered, without resistance, Feb. 16; and Banda, Mar. 8, 1796. The public property taken in those islands consisted of 147,787 rix-dollars, 515,940 pounds weight of cloves, 84,777 ditto of nutmegs, and 19,587 ditto of mace; besides merchandise and stores to a large amount.
* ↑ The value of the plate thus presented to Captain Farquhar was fixed at 110 guineas.
* ↑ See Captain Thomas Barker Devon.
* ↑ It is proper to remark that the Russians were totally unprovided with artillery, and that the British seamen had to encounter many difficulties before they could place their guns in battery against Bremer-lehe and Blexen; the roads being almost impracticable, and much exposed to the enemy’s fire.