Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-06-26
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COMMODORE ALEXANDER GILLON.

tains the subjoined interesting memoir of Com
modore Alexander Gillon, the first President
of the Chamber of Commerce of that city:
Commodore Alexander Gillon was born in
Rotterdam in 1741, his family being one Of
the oldest and most wealthy in that great
commercial city. The family Bible is still
extant with the name of his grandmother,
"Madame Johanna LIE Gillon," written in it,
dated 1900, with her coat Of arms on the first
| leaf.
DR.. johnson states that Commodore Gillon
was a man Of very fine personal appearance,
and of very acute, we'll cultivated mind.
He could converse in seven different langua-
ges, and write in FIVE of them. He served an
apprenticeship in Dutch counting house for
several years, where he acquired considerable
mercantile knowledge. He removed to Lon:
don when about twenty-one years of age, and
continued in England about four years. He
came from England to Charleston in 1866, and
was described as ian excellent English scholar
and a handsome gentleman" In the same
vessel with him, Mrs. Mary Cripps, widow,
and her son, John S. Cripps, were fellow pas.
sengers. They were highly respectable ma:
tives of Kent county, England, and possessed
a considerable estate. Gillon courted the
widow during the passage to Charleston, and
they were married in few months after their
arrival in this port They lived in hand
some establishment on East Bay, became in
innate with many of the most respectable
families of the State, and had fine country
seat, called Ashley Hill, on Ashley river, in
the vicinity Of the city, next south to Middle.
ton Place. Gillon became actively engaged
in mercantile pursuits and was considered a
rich merchant He had an interest in one or
more of our wharves, and the street situated
west of the post Office and directly opposite
the present Chamber of Commerce building
still bears his name. He took into partner
ship with him one of his own countrymen,
Elorian Charles May, and his stepson, John S.
Cripps and the firm continued successful
business until May, 1777, at which time Gillon
retired from it. The two other partners con-
tinued together, and for many years after the
revolution were prosperous and respectable
merchants.
Gillon's active, enterprising turn Of mind
now led him to engage in series OF brilliant
and patriotic enterprises, which are thus de-
scribed by DR.. johnson: In the year l777 and
78, the port of Charleston was blockaded by
various British cruisers. Three ofthem were
particularly troublesome. There was but one
armed vessel in port, and she was not more
than match for either of the British vessels
singly. Alexander Gillon, extensively en-
gagged in mercantile pursuits and annoyed at
this blockade, volunteered to 60 out against
the three ships with this single vessel, if the
governor would sanction it, and supply him
with suitable number Of marines in addition
to the crew of the vessel. The proposal was
accepted, and the marines drafted from the
regulars in the service of the State. He dis
guised his vessel to look like merchantmen,
and went to sea while the enemy were in
sight, but at some distance and little scat
tered. In his assumed character, Gillon pre-
tended to run away from the British cruisers,
and concealed all his men under his windward
railing. One of the enemy pursued him, and
thus became at still greater distance from
his comrades. When he came up with Gil
Ions vessel, he ran alongside with the utmost
confidence. Gillon threw his graphing irons
on board, and, at the head of his marines,
boarded the British vessel, and captured her
| Will UuI llILlC lOeS VII ClIAOl S'NS' OiAol
divided his prisoners between the two vessels
and secured them under the matches. He al
so divided his men and officers between the
two, and now considered himself a match for
the two remaining blockaders, able and will
ling to fight them. Still he proceeded in dis
guise. He kept the British flag flying on his
prize, and reversed the American flag on his
own vessel, over which he hoisted British
flag, to indicate that his had been captured,
and not the other. The two then made easy
sail towards the British vessels. On coming
up with the first he ran alongside in her COM
rade which had just been captured, and SUR
prised her by boarding, without firing gun.
The third blockader seeing no fight and hear.
ing no firing, suffered herselfto be surrounded
before she discovered that they were her ene-
my's vessels; but when their flags were at a
given signal all displayed in form, she found
that escape was impossible and resistance use
less; she therefore surrendered at discretion.
Gillon returned in triumph into Charleston
with his prizes, and this brilliant exploit trans
ferred him from the countinghouse to the
ono rtar.dack nf the finpst fripate then afOat