Single Campaign Medals


Oughton was bought into the flagship, H.M.S. Victory, as a Midshipman. His son George Edward Oughton had been born in April, and the return to the precarious status of midshipman was temporary. George Murray had returned to sea, and was aboard Victory, serving as Nelson’s trusted, highly appreciated Captain of the Fleet. One of his responsibilities was to know about all vacancies for commissioned and warrant officers throughout the fleet and to suggest ways to fill them. In Spring 1805, Nelson signed a Warrant appointing “Mr George Voller Oughton” acting Purser of the 18-gun sloop H.M.S. Bittern.


The Purser was, in modern terms, the Chief Logistics Officer of the ship, and an important factor in determining the welfare and morale of the crew. He was responsible for ensuring that the ship had its full victuals entitlement on board, so that the galley could be kept well supplied with food, that the rum in the secure spirit-room never ran out, and that his stock of dry goods such as clothing, tobacco, sugar, cocoa, candles and other comforts was sufficient to cater for all possible eventualities. He also issued the crew with their pay.


The Purser was a member of the officer’s wardroom, and was appointed by Warrant. An admiral could only issue a Warrant for a temporary appointment. The Warrant had to be confirmed by the Admiralty for the rank to become permanent. The most curious aspect of being Purser was that he received only a token rate of pay. Standard allowed rates of issue per head were laid down for victuals, and an eighth extra was added, as the Purser’s share. If some stores were ruined by water, eaten by pests or otherwise lost, if for some reason the Purser had to issue items at levels above the standard allowed rate, the extra cost came out of his share, but if he managed to economise, all of his eighth share and most of the savings went into his pocket. This system was intended to save money and make government budgeting easier, by preventing overspending on supplies. As the Purser was responsible for the ship’s supplies until actual usage was established by auditors at the end of each commission, a condition of becoming a Purser was that the man had to post a capital bond as security. The amount depended on the size of the ship’s crew. It would not have been easy for Oughton to find the necessary capital, which may be a reason why the Admiralty did not confirm his Warrant until December 1807.


A Purser who had entrepreneurial skills and drive could become well off, but a Purser was constantly at risk of becoming intensely unpopular. He could upset the crew by getting a reputation for earning extra money at their expense by issuing provisions at slightly below the standard rate. By bad arithmetic, poor management of paperwork and downright fraud he could grievously upset the Captain, who had to countersign and produce the numerous books, returns and vouchers needed to satisfy the auditors, guaranteeing their accuracy on pain of court-martial. The Purser could irritate the sea officers by not contributing to the fighting efficiency of the ship, and by being a despised bureaucrat.


Oughton seems to have avoided the worst of these pitfalls. His time spent ‘before the mast’ would have eliminated any temptation to “top it the Nob” with the seamen because of his education or cheat them out of their full rations, and his period as Clerk/Secretary would have given him insights as to how to deal with his Captain. Importantly, he set about actively proving his courage, zeal and desire to contribute to the reputation of Bittern by frequently volunteering as a combatant officer for ‘boat service’ and cutting-out expeditions along the coast of Calabria (Allen’s Navy List, Services of Paymasters p 86 refers). Sadly, he was “severely hurt when Acting Purser 1806 and invalided from that ship [Bittern] for compound fracture of the right leg” (recipient’s service notes refer). He returned to England, and more of his children were born in spring 1808 and May 1809.


H.M.S. Endymion, the Corunna Evacuation and the Capture of U.S.S. President


In September 1808, Oughton was awarded a ‘plum’ post as Purser of the 40-gun frigate Endymion. She was the fastest post-ship in the Navy, and her speed enabled her to capture a number of French privateers while he was on board. Services of Paymasters states that Oughton “served on shore on the north coast of Spain in 1809”. H.M.S. Endymion was moored at Corunna harbour 15-18 January 1809, to assist with the evacuation of Sir John Moore’s stricken army. Oughton’s presence on shore would have been related to the warehouses full of food, clothing, shoes, dry goods and munitions of all kinds sent by the British government to supply their soldiers and those of their Spanish allies. While the French army of Marshal Soult attempted to smash through the British defenders and seize the port, Oughton joined the hasty official efforts made to destroy these stockpiles. For example, 2,000 horses and draft cattle were killed and thrown into the sea (Oman’s A History of the Peninsular War p 852 refers). In these circumstances, it would have been strange indeed if Oughton had not “unofficially” sent as much fresh and preserved food and other supplies as possible back to Endymion, as a better alternative to their destruction or abandonment. Given that the allowance system of emoluments for pursers applied regardless of circumstances, this would have enabled him, completely legitimately, both to ensure a very appreciative Captain and ship’s company, and to make money for himself.


Endymion paid off in Plymouth in May 1812. Oughton’s accounts and records evidently satisfied the Admiralty auditors. The frigate underwent a major refit to prepare for her next commission, which was to be on the North American station, acting against American commerce, privateers and the United States Navy. Captain Henry Hope took command on 13 May 1813, shortly before she departed for Halifax. Meanwhile, Oughton’s wife Sophia had died, 16 months after the birth of her fourth child. She was buried on 13 April 1813. Their four young children (the eldest, a boy, was 9) had to be cared for by others once Endymion sailed.


The famous pursuit, near-crippling and ultimate capture of the 44-gun frigate U.S.S. President on 14 January 1815 was the highlight of this commission. By 1814 the larger ships of the U.S. Navy were entirely contained in port by a British close naval blockade. Commodore Stephen Decatur decided to take advantage of a gale which had blown the blockading squadron off its station to slip out of New York harbour in the President. As she left sheltered waters, the ship grounded for two hours and sustained damage to her masts and hull. At dawn, the British squadron sighted President. Decatur fled, with five ships in pursuit. Endymion, due to her fine sailing qualities, outpaced her consorts and came within range of President. Captain Hope had carefully studied the action in which H.M.S. Shannon had captured U.S.S. Chesapeake in 1813, and had trained his gun crews to shoot accurately.


At about 5.30 p.m. he closed up with President’s starboard quarter and yawed three times, firing his full broadside from a position where President’s guns could not reach him unless she also yawed, which Decatur did not do. He had been wounded by splinters and had planned to either cripple Endymion and/or board and take her, as he had an advantage of at least 150-200 more crewmen over the smaller ship, but Captain Hope always slipped out of his grasp. At 7 p.m. Decatur wore, turned away and ran south. Hope chose a parallel course off President’s starboard side, and another phase of the gunnery duel began. Decatur ordered his gunners to fire bar-shot and chain-shot to destroy Endymion’s sails and rigging, while Hope ordered his portside guns to shoot at President’s gun-ports. Endymion was armed with 24-pounders, which could pierce even the thick, live-oak sides of President.


At 7.58 p.m. President stopped firing and hoisted a light, indicating that she had surrendered. Six cannons from her 16-gun starboard main battery were disabled and she had almost two metres of water in her hull. Endymion’s boats had all been disabled, so she was unable to send an officer over to take possession of President. Despite having signalled his surrender, Decatur got underway at 8.30 p. m. to attempt an escape in the darkness. Endymion, whose sails had been badly damaged, resumed the chase at 8.52 p.m. Soon afterwards, two of the slower British ships intercepted President and opened fire on her. Decatur hailed to say that he had surrendered, ordering his sword to be sent “to the captain of the black ship” (Endymion’s hull was painted black). President had 24 killed and 55 wounded, Endymion lost 11 dead, 14 wounded. British Naval Medals for this action were only awarded to the surviving crew members of Endymion. None were given to the other British ships involved.


Knight of the Tower and Sword


Oughton remarried at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster, in February 1818, to Magdalen Dunbar. Over the next decade, they had two children. He went back to sea as Purser of the frigate Tribune before serving in the frigate H.M.S. Lively from 1 November 1823 until January 1826. In April 1824, Lively was lying off Lisbon in company with H.M.S. Windsor Castle, an old 98-gun ship-of-the-line reduced to 74 guns for cost-saving reasons. On 30 April 1824, Prince Miguel, Commander-in-Chief of the Portuguese Army, staged a coup d’état against his father, the King, and his liberal government. The King was held prisoner in his own palace until British and foreign diplomats managed to rescue him.


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