In 1813, after the United States declared war on Britain, there was a battle between these two sailing ships outside Boston Harbour. The British captain of the Shannon, Sir Philip Bowes Vere Broke, is shown heroically, being rowed towards the Chesapeake in a stormy sea. John Wilson Carmichael has rather dramatised the event - it occurred in a calm sea and lasted just fifteen minutes. Carmichael was keenly interested in the exploits of the Royal Navy and this work belongs to the traditions of marine painting, which emerged as a separate category of painting in the 17th century. Born in Newcastle-on-Tyne, Carmichael was the son of a ship’s carpenter and was apprenticed as a ship builder. However, he established himself as a painter in 1823, initially working with water-colours. He was employed by the Illustrated London News as a war artist to record the Crimean War and in 1859 he published The Art of Marine Painting in Watercolours.

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The painter of this work, John Carmichael, was born in Newcastle-on-Tyne. At an early age he went to sea and became familiar with shipping.

Following this experience he began training as an artist and became a pupil of Thomas Miles Richardson senior (1784 - 1848). For a while he also worked as a designer in a ship building office and carried out colour work for Newcastle architect John Dobson before turning completely to painting.

Until 1825 much of his work was in watercolour often taking his inspiration from the Northumberland coast landscape.

However, he was keenly interested in the exploits of the Royal Navy and incidents from British naval history often featured in his painting. This work is an example of that interest and it is thought that it was painted in 1841 to commemorate the deeds of Admiral Sir Philip Bowes Vere Broke who died that year.

Broke, or ‘Brave Broke’ as he became known, was the central figure in a duel that occurred outside Boston Harbour on 1 June 1813. This engagement was just one of many that took place in American waters in 1813 after the United States declared war on Britain. The Americans were confident of success as ‘Chesapeake’ carried 50 guns and a crew of 376 but proved no match for Broke’s highly disciplined men who had learned their skills during the war with France.

Carmichael’s depiction of the fight is highly dramatised. Captain Broke is shown heroically, with his sword raised, being rowed towards ‘Chesapeake’ in a stormy sea.

In fact the duel occurred in a calm sea and lasted just fifteen minutes. Broke was severely wounded but later recovered and continued his service in the Royal Navy.

When Broke fell wounded Povo Wallis his second lieutenant took command and escorted the captured ‘Chesapeake’ to Halifax in Nova Scotia. As a result of the conflict the total casualties were 71 killed and 174 wounded.

The British victory eventually became part of Naval folklore and was even celebrated in a popular Victorian song.

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