As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure.

Home / People / Philip Broke

Historical person

Philip Broke

1776–1841

Sir Philip Bowes Vere Broke was a Royal Navy officer born at Broke Hall in Suffolk in 1776. Entering the navy as a young man during the wars with Revolutionary France, he developed a particular interest in gunnery, discipline and repetitive training. Broke took command of HMS Shannon in 1806 and spent years drilling its crew to fire accurately and rapidly, creating a level of preparation that distinguished the frigate when Britain entered the War of 1812 against the United States.

On 1 June 1813, off Boston, Broke challenged USS Chesapeake and fought one of the war’s most celebrated single-ship actions. Shannon disabled and captured the American frigate after a battle lasting only minutes, although Broke suffered a severe head wound while leading the boarding party and never again held an active sea command. The victory restored British naval prestige after several earlier frigate defeats and brought Broke a baronetcy and honours. He remained in the navy, eventually reaching flag rank, and died in London in 1841.

Patrick O’Brian’s The Fortune of War carries Aubrey and Maturin into the War of 1812 and culminates in the clash between HMS Shannon and USS Chesapeake. Philip Broke commands the Shannon, and his disciplined preparation of ship and crew gives the novel its real historical basis for the short, violent action that ends with the American frigate captured.

Periods

Periods linked to Philip Broke

War of 18121812–1815 CE

Series

Historical novels and book series featuring Philip Broke (1 series)

Aubrey–Maturin Novels in Order

by Patrick O’Brian 21 books 4.5(73,173)

The Aubrey–Maturin novels follow Royal Navy officer Jack Aubrey and surgeon, naturalist and intelligence agent Stephen Maturin from the wars against Revolutionary and Napoleonic France through the War of 1812 and the first years after Waterloo. Across twenty completed novels, their friendship links shipboard command, espionage, science, domestic…

All books in this series