“BOLD AS A LION, BUT ALSO WISE AND WARY.”
Of the early life of this gallant commander there are no records
extant. It is known that in 1664 he commanded the _Gloucester_, of
fifty-eight guns, and in the following year the _Royal Charles_. He
received the honour of knighthood for his distinguished services.
In the action with the Dutch on the 1st June 1666, Sir John Harman’s
bravery was most conspicuous. He led the van of the fleet under the
Duke of Albemarle. He boldly dashed into the centre of the Zealand
squadron, and was the object of a concentrated attack by a number of
their best ships. His ship, the _Henry_, becoming disabled, Evertsen,
the Dutch admiral, offered Sir John quarter, which he bluntly and
promptly refused, saying, “It was not come to that--not yet.” Sir
John’s ship was grappled by a fire-ship on the starboard quarter,
and in great danger of being destroyed, and probably would have been
captured or burned but for the heroic conduct of Lieutenant Thomas
Lamming, who swung himself into the fire-ship, and by the light of
the fire found the grappling-irons, cast them loose, and swung back
to his own ship.[5] A second fire-ship was sent against the _Henry_,
and grappled on the larboard quarter. This attack was more successful
than that of the assailant Lamming had cast loose. The sails of the
_Henry_ caught fire, and a panic took possession of the crew, a number
of whom leaped overboard. With drawn sword, Sir John Harman commanded
the remainder of the crew to their duty, and threatened with death the
first who should attempt to leave the ship or fail to exert himself to
put out the flames. The fire was got under, but a third fire-ship was
sent against the _Henry_. Happily, before the fire-ship could get to
close quarters, a volley from the guns of the _Henry’s_ lower deck was
so well directed as to sink it--while a broadside directed against the
Dutch flag-ship included in its terrible effects the death of Evertsen,
the brave admiral.
[5] For this gallant act, Lamming was promoted to the command
of the _Ruby_.
Harman did not escape severe personal injury in the conflict. During
the hottest part of the fight, some of the burnt rigging fell upon
him and broke his leg, but he did not retire. He took the _Henry_
into Harwich for such repairs as could be effected in a few hours.
Notwithstanding his broken leg, he rejoined the fleet,--no entreaties
could dissuade him,--to take his part in the continuation of the battle.
Arriving at the scene of conflict, although eager for action, Rupert
and Albemarle, in consideration of his unfit and suffering condition,
absolutely forbade his pursuing his determination, and insisted on his
retiring for the rest essential to his recovery.
In March 1667, Sir John Harman sailed in command of an expedition to
the West Indies. His squadron consisted of seven men-of-war and two
fire-ships. He had permission to carry the Union flag at the main-top
of his flag-ship, the _Lion_, of fifty-eight guns, as soon as he got
out of the Channel. At Barbadoes he added four men-of-war to his
squadron, and sailed thence to Nevis, where he arrived on the 13th
June. He learned there that the French fleet, consisting of twenty-four
men-of-war, was at anchor under Martinique. This information he laid
before a council of war, and it was determined to attack the French.
When he came up with the French, he found them so posted as to preclude
the possibility, with the wind as it was, of forcing them to engage.
Sir John was bold as a lion, but was also wise and wary, and felt his
responsibility for the lives of his crews. On the 25th, the wind being
favourable, he attacked the French fleet, albeit double the strength
of his own. His success was complete. Eight of the French fleet were
soon on fire, a number of others were sunk, and only three or four
escaped.
A curious circumstance is recorded concerning the bearing of Sir John
during this action. He had not fully recovered from the accident he
had sustained in the preceding year, when he had his leg broken. He
was also suffering from a severe attack of gout, and was very lame.
On bearing in on the enemy’s fleet, he got up, walked about, and gave
orders, as if in perfect health, till the fight was over, when he again
became as lame as before.
He after this made a voyage to the Straits under Sir Thomas Allen, and,
although suffering much from physical infirmities, conducted himself
with characteristic bravery and discretion. The spirited action at
Solebay, and the second battle in 1672, between Prince Rupert and De
Ruyter, in which Harman rendered most effective service, were the last
actions of importance in which he was engaged. He had attained to the
rank of admiral of the blue when bodily infirmity compelled him to
retire reluctantly from the service.
ADMIRAL BENBOW.