John Ordronaux (privateer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Ordronaux
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|---|---|
| Born | December 16, 1778 |
| Died | August 24, 1841 (aged 62) |
| Occupation | Privateer |
| Piratical career | |
| Type | Privateer |
| Allegiance |  France United States |
| Commands | Marengo Prince de Neufchatel |
| Battles/wars | War of 1812 |
| Wealth | $300,000 |
| Later work | Sugar industry |
John Ordronaux (born December 16, 1778 – died August 24, 1841) was a very successful privateer during the War of 1812. A privateer was a private ship given permission by a government to attack enemy ships during wartime. They were like legal armed ships, not pirates. Ordronaux sailed for the United States against Great Britain.
He commanded two ships, the Marengo and later the Prince de Neufchatel. With these ships, he captured or destroyed about 30 British merchant ships. He also managed to outrun about 17 British warships. He brought back goods to the U.S. worth a lot of money, between $250,000 and $300,000. In August 1812, his actions led to a young Scotsman, James Swanston Miller, being left on the island of Grand Canary. This unexpected event helped start a famous business family on the island.
Contents
Early Life and First Command: Marengo
John Ordronaux was born in Nantes, Brittany, France. His father was a French merchant captain, and his mother was English. When the War of 1812 began on June 18, 1812, Ordronaux was in charge of the French privateer Marengo. This ship had been prepared in New York City in late 1811. A wealthy French lady named Florye Charretton supported his work.
Capturing Ships and Releasing Prisoners
On June 23, 1812, the Marengo was near New London, Connecticut. A British warship, HMS Belvidera, was watching it. However, the American warship USS President chased the British ship away. This allowed the Marengo to capture the British ship Lady Sherbroke from Halifax, Nova Scotia. This captured ship was sent to New York.
The Marengo then captured two more British ships, the Eliza and the Lady Provost. Records show that Ordronaux treated his prisoners well. On August 17, 1812, he handed over 18 prisoners to the British Consul in Fayal, Azores Islands. This exchange helped free American prisoners of war.
An Unexpected Stop in the Canary Islands
On August 29, 1812, the Marengo captured the British ship Concord. This happened between Tenerife and Fuerteventura. Some passengers from the Concord were left on the island of Grand Canary. One of them was 14-year-old James Swanston Miller from Scotland.
James Swanston Miller later became very important to the island's economy. A French merchant helped him learn about import and export. In 1820, he started his own business. His cousin joined him later, and the business grew. They established many companies, including a bank and a shipping agency. They also helped build the modern port of Las Palmas between 1883 and 1903. They even built the Santa Catalina Hotel and the English Church.
Members of the Miller family received a Spanish award for their contributions. They also served as honorary British vice-Consuls. They hosted important people, including royalty and the British Prime Minister.
A Failed Rescue Attempt
The British Navy might have tried to rescue James Swanston Miller and the other passengers. The frigate HMS Macedonian was ordered to hunt for prizes in the area. News of Ordronaux's actions likely reached the Atlantic islands. This news might have made HMS Macedonian want to chase the Marengo.
However, on October 25, just a few days later, HMS Macedonian was captured by the larger American frigate USS United States. So, if it was a rescue attempt, it failed quickly.
After leaving Grand Canary, the Concord was taken to New York to be sold. The captain of the Concord said he ate with Ordronaux's officers during the trip. This shows that Ordronaux's crew treated their prisoners politely. The sale of the Concord alone brought in $24,409. This money was shared among the ship's owners and crew. This success gave Ordronaux enough money to buy his own ship.
Second Command: Prince de Neufchatel
The British started to defend their ships more strongly. So, American shipbuilders began building larger, faster, and more heavily armed privateering ships. With his prize money and his patron's support, Ordronaux bought one of these new ships, the Prince de Neufchatel. It was built in New York between 1812 and 1813.
On October 28, 1813, Ordronaux took command of the Prince de Neufchatel. He showed great skill by sailing it to Cherbourg, France, almost unarmed. He arrived there on January 27, 1814, to get the ship ready. He even captured a British ship called Hazard before his own ship was fully prepared!
After being fitted with 18 guns (compared to Marengo's six), Ordronaux began his first cruise from Cherbourg in March 1814. He captured six British vessels. He sent the valuable ones to French ports and burned the rest. He did this even though British Royal Navy ships were constantly bothering him.
Ordronaux's next cruise was his most successful. He sailed along the coast of Portugal and back to the English Channel in July 1814. When he returned to Baltimore, USA, in October 1814, a newspaper reported his success. It said he had captured 20 ships since July.
Famous Battle with HMS Endymion
Ordronaux's most famous achievement happened in the fall of 1814. The Prince de Neufchatel was on its first privateering trip from a U.S. port. It had a very small crew of only 33 men. Four days after leaving Boston, it captured a British merchant ship called Douglass.
On October 11, while still towing the Douglass, the Prince de Neufchatel met the British warship HMS Endymion. This happened off the coast of Martha's Vineyard. Captain Henry Hope of the HMS Endymion was very impressed. He said that a private ship had stopped a much stronger British warship from capturing it. He noted that his ship lost as many men as if it had fought a regular warship. He praised the privateer's crew for their "heroic and skilful" defense.
Capture of Prince de Neufchatel
The Prince de Neufchatel was eventually captured by the British frigate HMS Leander on December 28, 1814. Before its capture, the ship had brought goods worth between $250,000 and $300,000 to the United States. It had also outrun 17 British warships because it was so fast and well-sailed.
Documents found on board show that Ordronaux was one of the owners. However, another captain was in charge when the ship was captured. This suggests that Ordronaux was not on board and was not responsible for its loss. British records also show that the British Navy considered using the Prince de Neufchatel themselves.
Later Life and Legacy
After the war, John Ordronaux was a rich man. He settled in New York City in 1816. He married Jean Marie Elizabeth Charretton, the daughter of his patron. They had four daughters and one son.
He reportedly had a second career in the sugar industry. He died in Cartagena, Colombia, in 1841. It is believed that his body, while being transported home, was thrown overboard by superstitious sailors during a storm. To honor him, a U.S. warship during World War II, USS Ordronaux (DD-617), was named after him.
