Michael Fitton (1766-1852) was an English lieutenant in the Royal Navy. During his career he made some 30 to 40 captures of enemy, chiefly French, vessels. Despite his notable victory over the French privateer Superbe in 1806, for which he received various honours, including a medal, and his earlier successes, Fitton never received a promotion beyond the rank of lieutenant. Not only did he lack a powerful patron but there is some suggestion that he may, by injudicious conduct early in his naval career, have made a powerful enemy. He died in 1852.
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Fitton was born at Gawsworth in Cheshire, the ancient seat of his family.
He entered the navy in June 1780, on board HMS Vestal, with Captain George Keppel.
On 10 September Vestal gave chase to and captured the Mercury packet, having on board Henry Laurens, previously president of Congress, on his way to the Netherlands as ambassador of the revolted American colonies. During the chase young Fitton, being on the foretop-gallant yard, hailed the deck to say that there was a man overboard from the enemy. Vestal sent a boat to pick him up, when the object was found to be a bag of papers, which, being insufficiently weighted, was recovered. On examination these papers were found to compromise the Dutch government, and led to a declaration of war against the Netherlands a few months afterwards. Fitton continued with Captain Keppel during the war in different ships, and as midshipman on HMS Fortitude was present at the relief of Gibraltar in 1782.
In 1793 he was again with Captain Keppel as a master's mate in the 74-gun third rate HMS Defiance. In 1796 he was appointed purser of the sloop HMS Stork in the West Indies, and in 1799 was acting lieutenant of the 54-gun fourth rate HMS Abergavenny on the Jamaica station, from which he was detached in command of one or another of her tenders.
In 1800 Fitton commanded the 8-gun schooner Active. She assisted Nereide at the capitulation of Curaçao on 13 September 1800.[1]
As captain of the schooner Ferret he cruised the Mona Passage, in company with the cutter Sparrow, commanded by Mr. Whylie.
The two accidentally separated for a few days. On rejoining, Fitton invited Whylie by signal to come to breakfast, and while waiting caught a large shark that was under the stern. In its stomach was found a packet of papers relating to an American brig Nancy. When Whylie came on board, he mentioned that he had detained an American brig called the Nancy. Fitton then said that he had her papers. 'Papers?' answered Whylie; 'why, I sealed up her papers and sent them in with her.' 'Just so,' replied Fitton; 'those were her false papers; here are her real ones.' And so it proved. The papers were lodged in the Admiralty Court at Port Royal, and by them the brig was condemned. The shark's jaws were set up on shore, with the inscription, 'Lieut. Fitton recommends these jaws for a collar for neutrals to swear through.' The papers were preserved in the museum of the Royal United Service Institution.
Fitton's whole service during the three years in which he commanded the Abergavenny's tenders was marked by daring and good fortune. Several privateers of superior force he captured or beat off. One, which he drove ashore, he boarded by swimming, himself and the greater part of his men plunging into the sea with their swords in their mouths.
When war with France resumed in 1803, Fitton was again sent out to Abergavenny and appointed to command her tender, the schooner HMS Gipsy. At the attack on Curaçao in 1804, being the only officer in the squadron who was acquainted with the island, he piloted the ships in, and had virtually the direction of the landing. On the failure of the expedition the Gipsy was sent to the admiral with despatches, and Fitton, in accordance with the senior officer's recommendation, was promoted to lieutenant. In the Gipsy and afterwards in the HMS Pitt, a similar schooner, he continued to wage war on the enemy's privateers.
On 26 October 1806, after a weary chase of sixty-seven hours, Pitt drove on shore and captured the French privateer Superbe, a French ship of superior force, with on board a list of captures that showed a value of £147,000. The captain of the Superbe afterwards equipped a brig which he named Revanche de la Superbe, and sent an invitation to Fitton to meet him at a place named; however, before the message arrived Fitton had been superseded as captain by the 17-year old Thomas John Cochrane, son of admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane, who was then commanding officer of the Leeward Islands station.[2] Fitton had the thanks of the Admiralty, a sword valued at £50 from the Patriotic Society, and his share of the prize-money, but had no command.
Fitton remained unemployed till 1811, when he was appointed to the command of the gunbrig Archer for the Channel. In February 1812 he took command of the gunbrig Cracker for service in the North Sea and Baltic. Cracker was sold for breaking up in November 1815.[3]
In 1831 he was appointed a lieutenant of the ordinary at Plymouth, and in 1835 was admitted to Greenwich Hospital. He stayed there until his death, which took place at Peckham on 31 December 1852.