Johnston Blakeley

Johnston Blakeley also spelled Johnston Blakely (October 1781 - October 1814) was an officer in the United States Navy during the Quasi-War with France and the War of 1812.

Blakeley was born near Seaford, County Down, Ireland. Brought to the United States as a child in 1783, he graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1800, then joined the Navy and was appointed a Midshipman in 1800.

After service in "President" during the Quasi-War with France and command of "Enterprise" early in the War of 1812, Master Commandant Blakeley was appointed to command of the newly built sloop-of-war "Wasp".

In 1814, he made a very successful cruise which included the capture of HMS "Reindeer". "Wasp" was last heard of 9 October 1814 and is believed to have foundered in a gale. Blakeley received the thanks of Thanks of Congress, a gold medal, and posthumous advancement to Captain for his last cruise.

Captain Blakeley was married, in December, 1813, to Miss Jane Hoope, the daughter of his father’s old friend, Mr. Hoope, of New York; and has left an only daughter, who received one of the most noble and substantial and affecting tributes of national gratitude which has occurred in the history of this country. The legislature of North Carolina, on the 27th of December, 1816, after prescribing the destination of the sword they had voted to Captain Blakeley, “Resolved, unanimously, That Captain Blakeley’s child be educated at the expense of this State; and that Mrs. Jane Blakeley be requested to draw on the Treasurer of this State, from time to time, for such sums of money as shall be required for the education of the said child.”

Sources

* Frost, John, "The Pictorial Book Of The Commodores; Comprising Lives Of Distinguished Commanders In The Navy Of The United States." Nafis & Cornish, New York, 1845

Two ships were named "Blakely" for him (with one of them sharing the honor with a great-grand nephew, Charles Adams Blakely), as well as USS "Blakeley" (DD-150) which was named for him alone.

External links

* [http://www.congressionalgoldmedal.com/JohnstonBlakely.htm Gold Medal text]
* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/destroy/dd150txt.htm hazegray.org: USS "Blakeley" (DD-150)]