Francis Wheler

Rear-Admiral of the Red Sir Francis Wheler (1656 – 19 February 1694) was a Royal Navy officer who served in the Nine Years' War. Wheler spent the early part of his career in the Mediterranean, eventually being promoted to command his own ships, and being particularly active against the Barbary corsairs and Salé Rovers. He went on to serve in British waters, and was knighted by King James II. Wheler remained in the navy after the Glorious Revolution and his continued good service led to the command of a squadron.

He fought at Beachy Head and Barfleur, and in 1692 was promoted to flag rank. Wheler took a fleet out to attack French possessions in the Caribbean and North America, but his attack on Martinique ended in failure when large numbers of the troops involved became sick. He floated the idea of an attack on Quebec, but insufficient troops could be found, and an assault on Newfoundland was similarly considered but rejected after the defences were found to be too great to overcome.

Wheler nevertheless received another promotion, and went out to the Mediterranean in command of a large convoy. He made little attempt to engage the French warships he encountered on the voyage, but concentrated on reaching Cádiz safely. After successfully escorting the convoy Wheler attempted to navigate the strait of Gibraltar, but encountered fierce winds. His fleet was scattered and a number of ships were wrecked, while his flagship, , foundered with heavy loss of life early in the morning of 19 February 1694. Wheler was among the dead, his body being washed up two days later.

Early life

Francis Wheler was born in 1656, a younger son of Sir Charles Wheler and his wife Dorothy, daughter of Sir Francis Bindlosse. He entered the navy and on 30 April 1678 was appointed second-lieutenant aboard by Vice-Admiral Sir Arthur Herbert, while serving in the Mediterranean. Wheler continued in Rupert under Sir John Narborough, who promoted him to first-lieutenant on 5 May 1679, and on 6 April 1680 moved aboard at the same rank, serving under Herbert again. Wheler's next command was , which he was appointed to on 25 August 1683. He commanded her until August 1688, when he was moved to by King James II, and moved again on 16 November by the King to . It was about this time that Wheler received a knighthood from the King. Wheler took command of the 90-gun and fought at the Battle of Beachy Head on 10 July 1690, and at the Battle of Barfleur on 19 May 1692. He arrived at Madeira on 26 January, but did not reach Barbados until 1 March.

Codrington then proposed an attack on Guadeloupe, but Wheler had orders to leave the West Indies by May, and was doubtful that the inexperienced and sickly troops would have much chance of success. While anchored at Boston he had invited Reverend Cotton Mather to come out to his ships to read a sermon to the men. Mather had been rowed out on Phips's barge, but had become seasick and had turned back. Instead Mather gave a sermon in his meeting house on shore, which was attended by a number of the British commanders, including Wheler.

Voyage to the Mediterranean

The fleet, consisting of twenty ships of the line and frigates was ready by November but were detained in port by contrary winds until 27 December. He was finally able to sail from Plymouth, and was joined on 29 December by a merchant convoy, which he escorted as far as Cape Finisterre. With him were Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Hopsonn, Rear-Admiral John Nevell and a Dutch squadron under Gerard Callenburgh. The homeward bound convoy was placed under Hopsonn, and after staying at Cádiz a month, Wheler left port on 10 February and attempted to pass through the straits, but was prevented by contrary winds. He tried again on 17 February but was again forced back by the winds, which rose to a hurricane early on the morning of 19 February. The fleet was scattered, several ships mistaking the Bay of Gibraltar for the straits and running into it. There a number foundered or were wrecked, including , and Wheler's flagship. Sussex foundered at 5 in the morning of 19 February, with the loss of all but two of her crew of 550. Wheler's body was washed up two days later, 'much mangled'. There were reports that it was embalmed and sent back to England for burial, but these were judged doubtful by historian J. K. Laughton.

Family and issue In 1685 Wheler married Arabella, daughter of Sir Clifford Clifton, 3rd Bt. and his wife Frances Finch, and by her he had three boys and a girl, the latter named Anna-Sophia. The eldest boy was named Charles, and with Anna-Sophia was mentioned in Wheler's will of 1692. These presumably died young, as later records mention only two surviving children; the second son, named William, and a third son, named Francis, who was probably born in either 1693 or 1694. William's son, Francis, produced a daughter named Jane who married Henry Hood, 2nd Viscount Hood, becoming the mother of Samuel Hood, 2nd Baron Bridport.