Author: Charnock, John
Biography:
CHARNOCK, John (1756-1807: ODNB)
The “E. L.” who wrote the biographical sketch of Charnock appended to his posthumous—and only—work in verse, Loyalty, or Invasion Defeated may have been Edward Hawke Locker, the son of Captain William Locker, Charnock’s friend. The book was published by subscription; twelve copies were taken by a John Charnock of Gray’s Inn, presumably a relation. Undoubtedly the publication was intended to benefit Charnock’s widow, Mary. Charnock’s father, John Charnock (d 1809 in Bath), was a barrister who was a member of the Inner Temple, London, at the time of his marriage on 13 Jan. 1756 in Leyton, Essex, to Frances Boothby. “E. L.” states that John Charnock senior was originally from Barbados, making it likely he was the son of Colonel Benjamin Charnock, a Barbados slave-owner. Charnock junior was born on 28 Nov. 1756 in Stanford on Soar, Nottinghamshire, and baptised there on 21 Mar. 1756. He was educated at Winchester school and matriculated at Trinity College, Oxford, on 15 Dec. 1774 but did not take a degree. He became interested in the navy and was briefly a naval volunteer. He married Mary Jones on 12 Sept. 1789 in St. Swithin’s church, London; sources describe her as the daughter of Peregrine Jones of Philadelphia. They had no children. Although Charnock came from a wealthy family, his relationship with his father soured—possibly because of his marriage—and he was thrown on his own resources. His first publication was probably The Rights of a Free People (1792). Inspired by Captain Locker, he wrote Biographia Navalis (6 vols., 1794-98), A History of Marine Architecture (3 vols., 1800-02), and Life of Lord Nelson (1806). Charnock died in poverty in London on 16 May 1807 and was buried at Lee, near Blackheath, on 21 May 1807. His wife died on 26 May 1836. (ODNB 15 Nov. 2023; ancestry.co.uk 15 Nov. 2023; findmypast.co.uk 15 Nov. 2023; LBS; E. L. “Biographical Memoir of the Late John Charnock,” in Loyalty, or Invasion Defeated; Scots Magazine 1 July 1809) SR