Patronage in the Royal Navy: How to sever a connection

18 Jun 2015

In the second post of the series, researcher and guest blogger Catherine Beck continues to make discoveries in her research among the papers of eighteenth century Admiral John Markham.... (see Catherine's first post here). On 18th May 1804 John Markham replied to Captain Thomas Searle: ‘you have given me sufficient caution never to interfere in your concerns in future.’ What provoked this? Searle solicited Markham three times in May 1804. First for the command of a sloop-of-war and then for a position in the Sea Fencibles (land-based militia commanded by old sea officers). On 16th May he accused Markham of giving his position to St Vincent’s friend... He wrote (rather emphatically): ‘I was inform’d immediately after seeing you, that I was appointed to the Perseus Bomb [vessel] for no other purpose than to make a vacancy in the Portsmth Sea Fencibles for a Particular Friend of Lord St Vincent which I think was rather unfair.’ Searle believed he was in a strong position. He was friends with the Mayor of Portsmouth, where Markham was MP. This letter shows me how important rules of politeness were in requesting patronage and that it was unwise to accuse your patron of corruption, no matter the strength of your connections...