Other 18th-/19th-century conflicts
Maps, views and documents from 19 wars
Atlantic Ocean, 1814
To Captain Phillimore, his Officers, Seamen and Marines, this representation of their skilful manoeuvre (in passing under the Enemy's Stern when he expected them to take the weather-gage) by which his Majesty's Frigate...
published Jun 1814Aquatint with etching and engraving; printed on paper | 36.2 x 46.6 cm (image) | RCIN 735185.1.a
A view of the beginning of the action between HMS Eurotas and USS Clorinde off Brest on 25 February 1814. The War of 1812 (1812-15).
HMS Eurotas was a 46-gun frigate carrying light 24-pounders on the main deck. She was one of the first to be fitted out to be able to meet the large American super frigates on equal terms. The Captain of the Eurotas, John (later Sir John) Phillimore (1781-1840) had seen service in both Battles of Copenhagen (1801 and 1807), and was the officer who sent Sir Hyde Parker's signal to disengage from the battle in 1801 to Nelson which was famously ignored by the latter turning a 'blind eye'. He became aide-de-camp to Queen Victoria.
This view shows the two ships just before action was engaged, with the Clorinde to the left. The Clorinde eventually surrendered when the British frigate Dryad and sloop Achates came into view.
The Joseph Phillimore, in whose possession the original painting of this view is quoted as being, was either John's father, Joseph, or possibly his lawyer elder brother (1775-1855).
Robert Dodd (1748-1815) (engraver and publisher) [bottom, left of centre, below title:] Engraved from the original Paintings in the Possession of Joseph Phillimore L.L.D. &c. &c.; [bottom, right of centre, below title:] Published by R. Dodd, Commercial Road, London, June, 1814.
Watermark: None
Condition: no fold lines; brown discolouration to both sides. Verso: surface dirt
33.9 x 46.6 cm (neatline)
36.2 x 46.6 cm (image)
39.2 x 50.3 cm (platemark)
43.4 x 54.5 cm (sheet)
Printed title:
To Captain Phillimore, his Officers, Seamen and Marines, this representation of their skilful manoeuvre (in passing under the Enemy's Stern when he expected them to take the weather-gage) by which his Majesty's Frigate / EUROTAS, brought the Imperial French Frigate LA CLORINDE, into Action on the afternoon of the 25,,th Feb,,y 1814. is most respectfully Inscribed by their Obedient Servant / Rob,,t Dodd. [bottom, below view]
Annotations:
George III heading: Naval Engagement, 25 Feb. 1814.
Other annotations: (Recto) none. (Verso) [bottom left, black pencil, in Evelyn Heaton-Smith's hand:] 234.b (i).
George III catalogue entry:
Naval Engagement Representation of H.M. Frigate Eurotas, Captain Phillimore, bringing the Imperial Frigate la Clorinde into Action on the afternoon of the 25.th of Feb.y 1814: by R. Dodd, 1814.
Subject(s)
Atlantic Ocean (47°40'00"N 09°30'00"W)
Bibliographic reference(s)
N. Doe, 'Phillimore, Joseph (1775–1855)', Dictionary of National Biography, 2004.
J.K. Laughton, 'Phillimore, Sir John (1781–1840)', Dictionary of National Biography, 2004.
N. Tracy, Who's who in Nelson's Navy: 200 Naval Heroes, London, 2006.
Page revisions
14 March 2024
Current version
