Spelman Swaine
Spelman Swaine was born about 1768 in Wisbech in the Isle of Ely in Cambridgeshire, the Swaine family having been long associated with the town. An earlier Spelman Swaine inherited Leverington Hall, outside the town, and other property in the town but he died a bachelor in1761. The hall was left to one nephew, Daniel, while another property went to Daniel's brother John and, eventually, to his grandson, Spelman Swaine. The Swaine family were acquainted with the Yorkes, the Earls of Hardwicke , who lived nearby and Spelman probably benefited from patronage from them.
Spelman Swaine joined the Discovery on 20 December 1790 as a master's mate. He was an A.B. from 01 June 1791 to 30 August 1792. He then changed ships to become master of the Chatham until 26 September1792. Here turned to Discovery as 3rd lieutenant from 26 September 1792t o 25 November 1794. Swaine was next promoted to 2nd lieutenant on 26 November 1794 . He kept a log (Adm 51/4532 pt. 1. Discovery. 18 Dec.1790 to 30 Aug. 1792; Chatham. 31 Aug. 1792 to 26 Sep. 1792; Adm 51/4532 pt. 2. Discovery. 27 Sep. 1792 to 02 Jul. 1795). Cape Swaine in Milbanke Sound, British Columbia, was named after him.

After the voyage with Vancouver, Swaine was made lieutenant on 27 October 1795 and commander on 29 April 1802. That year, Spelman Swainetook over command in July of the Raven (Raven had been the French Arethusa captured by HMS Excellent off L'Orient in October 1799) at Portsmouth. In the October, the Raven together with the Sophie transported troops t o Jersey before proceeding to the Mediterranean where Swaine carried dispatches to Tangiers, Algiers, Tunis, Tripoliand Valetta. During October 1803, Raven led Nelson's fleet through the Bocche di Bonifacio between Sardinia and Corsica to an anchorage among the Maddelena Island at Agincourt Sound. Unfortunately, a few months later on 06 July 1804, the Raven was wrecked near Mazara in the west of Sicily. The crew were saved by an accompanying merchantman and taken aboard the Kent. Swaine was promoted to captain on 17 May 1810.

In 1811 Swaine took command of HMS Talbot on the Irish station. On 30November, Talbot sailed from the base at Loughswilly and by 04 December was buffetted by gales. An accompanying vessel, the Saldanha,was wrecked but the Talbot managed to ride out the storm. The Talbot was next used to protect the Newfoundland and West Indies trade. Swaine transferred in April 1814 to HMS Statira after its previous captain had been killed in a duel.

Statira returned to Britain and later took senior military personnel to New Orleans. In Februay 1815, while sailing with a convoy fromBermud a to the ?le Dauphine, the Statira struck an uncharted rock off Cubaon the 26th. The officers and crew were removed into a transport belonging to the convoy and the ship sank. Swaine returned to Britian as apassenger in the Asia and was fully acquitted at the subsequent courtmartial .

Swaine had married Sophia Ann Le Grice, from Bury St. Edmunds, in 1804 and together they had several daughters. The Swaines moved to live int he Crescent in Wisbech having had the Leverington house pulled down. Swaine was promoted rear admiral shortly before his death. He held variou s offices in Cambridgeshire, including being Chief Bailiff forthe Isle of Ely. Swaine died on 14 January 1848 at Wisbech St Peters, leaving a will (FRC will; 29 March 1848 11/2072).

N.M.