George Gustavus Lennock

George Gustavus Lennock ( – 12 May 1866) was a Royal Navy officer and maritime artist whose career ran from the French Revolutionary Wars to the War of 1812. He entered the navy in 1789, probably aged about fourteen, and later became an admiral on the retired list. He commanded the brig-sloop HMS Raven in actions off the Dutch and Frisian coasts in 1811 and 1812, and as a young officer produced signed maritime watercolours, including views of Royal Navy ships and dockyard scenes at Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Early career

Lennock entered the Royal Navy in April 1789 as captain's servant in the frigate under Robert Murray, and served three years in the West Indies, ending the period as a midshipman. He then served on the home station in under Samuel Hood, before returning to the Caribbean in and joining the flagship of Sir John Jervis.

In 1805 and 1806 he held acting commands on the Jamaica station, including HMS Shark, HMS Drake and HMS Mignonne, and was confirmed as commander on 6 August 1806.

Maritime drawings

The Art Canada Institute describes many surviving late-18th-century views of Halifax and its harbour as the work of amateurs, often British military officers trained in topographic illustration. At least three signed Lennock watercolours from this period are documented.

H.M.S. Assistance in Halifax Harbour, Nova Scotia, 1796, signed "G.G. Lennock delt" and inscribed "ASSISTANCE", was sold at Christie's in 2007. The H.M.S. Asia and the House of the Commissioner, Royal Naval Dockyards, Halifax, dated and inscribed "G.G.Lennock/Delt.", is held in the Peter Winkworth Collection of Canadiana at Library and Archives Canada, and has appeared in exhibitions at the Confederation Centre Art Gallery, the Owens Art Gallery, The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery and the Canadian War Museum. Two frigates of the Blue Squadron positioning themselves prior to opening fire, signed "G.G. Lennock Delt. 1799" and with provenance from The Armoury of St James's, has been offered at auction by Charles Miller Ltd.

Command of HMS Raven

In October 1809 Lennock was appointed to the 16-gun brig-sloop HMS Raven, attached to the North Sea force.

The second action came on 3 July 1812, when Raven fell in with a detachment of fourteen enemy brigs off Flushing, each armed with three or four long 24-pounders. Lennock's own dispatch, printed by Marshall, reported that Raven overtook seven of the enemy vessels, forced four to anchor under the guns of their batteries, and drove three ashore.

Command of HMS Esk

On 21 January 1814 Lennock was appointed to the 20-gun ship-sloop , in which he was promoted post-captain on 4 June 1814. vice-admiral with seniority from 31 January 1856, and admiral from 11 February 1861.

Family and death

Lennock married Anna Walker, eldest daughter of J. Walker of Crawfordtown, Dumfriesshire, in 1829.

Lennock died at Broomrigg, Dumfriesshire, on 12 May 1866. In his will, Lennock made separate bequests to his brother Commander Charles Adam Lennock RN and to Lieutenant-General Sir James Ferguson. Ferguson received a gold snuff box which Lennock described as having been a gift from Gustavus III of Sweden to a Mr Lyall and as having been "willed to me by the late Baroness Nolcken".