Royal Naval Biography/Rennie, George
GEORGE RENNIE, Esq.
[Post-Captain of 1814.]
Is, we believe, a nephew to the late celebrated civil engineer. The following is a copy of the first published gazette letter in which his name appears: –
“Sir,– I beg leave to acquaint you, that having chased a Danish man-of-war cutter, of 6 guns, and apparently quite new, on shore at Huilbo (a harbour in Jutland); and anchored H.M. frigate in 19 feet water, the boats were sent under the directions of Lieutenants Plumridge and Rennie, who succeeded in boarding and destroying her, with other vessels, under a most tremendous fire.
“The immense crowds of the enemy exposed to the fire of the Melpomene and that of her launch’s carronade, leaves me good reason to suppose their loss must be very considerable. Ours is confined to Lieutenant George Rennie and 5 men severely wounded in the boats; but more might have been expected from the severe and galling fire altogether directed on them.
“I cannot close this letter without expressing how much Lieutenants Plumridge and Rennie are to be admired, with every officer and man, for their zealous and gallant conduct on this occasion. I have the honor to be, &c.
“To Rear-Admiral Sir Samuel Hood, K.B. &c. &c. &c.”
The Melpomene was shortly afterwards attacked during a calm, by twenty large Danish gun-vessels, on which occasion she had 34 of her officers and crew killed and wounded, and sustained considerable damage in her hull, sails, and rigging[1]. She subsequently proceeded to the Gulf of Finland, and, in company with the Implacable 74, captured nine Russian transports, laden with timber, spars, and cordage. On the 6th July, 1809, her boats assisted at the capture of three other vessels, in the Gulf of Narva. An exploit of a very brilliant description, subsequently performed by them, in conjunction with those of the Implacable, Bellerophon, and Prometheus, will be noticed in our memoir of Captain Frederick E. V. Vernon[2].
We next find the subject of this sketch acting as commander of the Hecate sloop, at the reduction of the Mauritius, in Dec. 1810[3]. His promotion to that rank was confirmed by the Admiralty, April 18, 1811; and his first appointment afterwards, which was to the Podargus of 14 guns, took place Dec. 14, 1812. In that vessel he entered the Gironde with the squadron under Rear-Admiral Penrose, Mar. 27, 1814: the manner in which he was there employed will be seen by reference to Suppl. Part II. pp. 287 – 293.
Captain Rennie’s post commission bears date June 7, 1814. He commanded the Lightning 20, from Aug. 14th following, until Nov. 1815; and received an appointment to the Tees 26, fitting for foreign service, Feb. 3, 1818.
On the 3d July, 1821, a court-martial was assembled, at Portsmouth, to try Captain Rennie on charges of cruel, oppressive, and unofficerlike conduct towards the crew of the Tees, and was continued by adjournment, until the 14th, when sentence was pronounced to the following effect.
That the charge of cruelty had not been proved against Captain Rennie, and he was consequently acquitted thereof; but that the other charges were proved, inasmuch as it appeared, that irregular punishments had been inflicted on several of the ship’s company, contrary to the 33d article of the act made for the regulation and government of his Majesty’s naval forces; for which he was adjudged to be dismissed the service. The court, however, felt themselves bound to express their great regret that they were under the necessity of passing so severe a sentence, especially considering the very high character given Captain Rennie by several distinguished officers; the licentiousness, drunkenness, and great insubordination manifested by the crew; the situation in which the Tees was placed at the time the irregular punishments were inflicted; and also, his having been actuated by a conviction that he was exercising his authority in the most lenient manner; – the Court, therefore, most earnestly recommended him to the favorable consideration nf the Admiralty; and he was consequently restored to his former rank in the summer of 1822.