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Philip Durham was born in Largo, Fifeshire, in 1763. His naval career began on board the Trident in 1777 and in the following year he sailed for America under command of the tyrannical Captain Molloy. With a ship near mutiny, the following year was a trial for young Durham. Fortunately, he managed to be returned to England and gained a billet on board the Edgar, Captain Elliot, and took part in the relief of Gibraltar in 1781. Durham next served on board the Victory and was selected by Admiral Kempenfelt to assist with signals, staying at Spithead on 29 April 1782, the admiral lost his life but Durham was saved.
Durham soon joined the Union, still as acting lieutenant, and in her, as part of Lord Howe’s fleet, again relieved Gibraltar. This was followed by a cruise to the West Indies and he was confirmed in the rank of lieutenant and appointed to the Raisonable, cruising off the west coast of Africa. But with the end of the war and failing health, Durham went on leave, and for two years lived in France, learning the language and enjoying French society.
Returning to sea under the command of Commodore Elliot, Durham served in several ships until November 1790, when he was given command of the Daphne. In February 1793, with the commencement of war with France, he had command of the Spitfire and made his first capture: the French privateer Afrique. The next year was most active: moving to a couple of ships until in the Hind, he managed to bring a convoy of 157 ships home safely from the Mediterranean. With this success, Captain Durham was now appointed to hms Anson (46), one of the largest frigates in the Royal Navy, and stayed with her during the next six years, taking part in John Borlase Warren’s action of 12 October 1798, for which he received the naval small gold medal.
In April 1803, Durham was appointed to the Defiance (74) and in her served with Cornwallis’s Channel Fleet off Brest. On 22 July 1805, the Defiance played an important role as part of Sir Robert Calder’s squadron which intercepted the combined squadrons of France and Spain off Cape Finisterre upon their return from the West Indies. As the Defiance was probably the fastest 74 in Calder’s squadron, she had been sent to the west to search for the approaching enemy. The Defiance found them and was able to alert Calder through the firing of guns. Calder changed course to intercept the enemy, and the Defiance took her station in the line. A spirited action of four hours ensued with the Defiance taking several shot between wind and water and her rigging being much cut up. The weather turned to fog, which also made the action difficult for the ships of Calder’s squadron to see each other. In these conditions, when the opposing fleets separated, Calder decided to regroup and secure the two prizes he had captured.
The following morning, the Defiance was stationed between the two fleets. Durham signalled repeatedly to Calder, trying to indicate that a renewed attack was possible; but he was ignored and later, when he reported on board the flagship, was reprimanded for being ‘over zealous’. The Defiance was so badly damaged that she was ordered home for repairs and, while in London, Durham met Nelson in the Admiralty waiting room. Nelson apparently told him, ‘I am sorry your ship is not ready, I should have been very glad to have you.’ Durham replied, ‘Ask Lord Barham to place me under your Lordship’s orders, and I will soon be ready.’ Nelson duly did so, and Durham joined him off Cadiz on 7 October.
Even then he might have missed the battle. Having learned that he was being criticised for his conduct in the battle off Finisterre, Calder had asked for a court martial and went home, taking with him as witnesses some of the captains who had served with him at the battle. However, when Durham discovered that he was not under direct orders to accompany his admiral, he declined to go and stayed with his ship.
So it was that Durham, in the Defiance, found himself on the morning of 21 October, toward the rear of Collingwood’s column, just astern of the Revenge. Entering the fray, Durham quickly moved to engage Gravina’s flagship, the Principe de Asturias, but found his way blocked by the French Berwick (74); the ships collided and the Defiance took away her bowsprit. Gravina’s ship was now sailing away to leeward with the Berwick trying to follow her.
The Defiance was now much cut up, particularly in the rigging, when she came upon the French L’Aigle (80), which had previously been raked by the Bellerophon, Belleisle and Revenge. After a fierce gunnery duel, Durham noticed the French fire had begun to slacken, so he called for boarders, only to find that all his boats had been shot through. Inspired by a gallant young Irish midshipman, Jack Spratt, who swam alone to L’Aigle and began the fighting, the crew of the Defiance swarmed aboard the French ship and eventually, after some particuarly vicious hand-to-hand fighting, eventually captured her after a most gallant resistance.
Durham received wounds to his leg and side. After the battle, he received a visit from Hardy, who told him, ‘I have a word of comfort for you; one of the last things Lord Nelson said before his action began, was, “Hardy, tell your friend Durham he was the most sensible man of the party to stick to his ship.”
Later, he went on board the frigate Euryalus to see Admiral Collingwood. Observing a French officer leaning on the captain, he discovered he was Villeneuve, who asked him if he had been in Calder’s action. When Durham replied that he had, Villeneuve sighed and said, “I wish Sir Robert and I had fought it out that day. He would not be in his present situation, nor I in mine.”
The Defiance, in great need of repair, was ordered to Portsmouth and, much to Durham’s surprise, he was in time to testify after all at Calder’s court martial. He remained in England and bore the Nelson’s standard as a Knight of the Bath at the state funeral. He received the naval gold medal and a sword from the Lloyd’s Patriotic Fund.
Later in 1806, Durham took command of the Renown in the Channel Fleet, and was sent to join Collingwood in the Mediterranean, where he subsequently was given a commodore’s broad pendant and stayed until 1810. Upon his return home in 1810, he was made rear admiral and then in 1813, with his flag on board the Venerable, he became commander-in-chief of the Leeward Islands. On his way out, he managed to capture two large French frigates. In 1815, he accepted the surrender of both Martinique and Guadeloupe.
Following the conclusion of the war, the usual honours followed, including the GCB and the rank of full admiral. Durham married twice but bore no heirs. In 1845, he was on tour in Italy, where acute bronchitis brought an end to his life in Naples on 2 April 1845. His body was brought home and buried at Largo.
SCC
Type: Wall monument
Material: White marble
Location: Largo and Newburn Parish Church, Upper Largo, Fife
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