Historedia
Person

Richard Pearson

Events
1
Episodes
6
Years
1779–1780

Every event in Historedia whose sources name Richard Pearson, with the role they cite and all of that event’s episodes. This is not a biography, and mentions are grouped by name, so two people with the same name can share this page.

Events and episodes

  1. Battle of Flamborough Head

    1779–1780

    Role: Captain of HMS Serapis

    1. 14 August – 22 September 1779 · Groix off L'Orient to the Yorkshire coastSquadron Sails and Approaches the Yorkshire Coast

      Jones's seven-ship squadron left Groix on 14 August 1779; on the evening of 22 September Bonhomme Richard and Vengeance turned north to rendezvous with Alliance and Pallas.

    2. 23 September 1779 · North Sea off Flamborough HeadBonhomme Richard and Serapis Grapple

      Around 7 pm Bonhomme Richard closed with Serapis; their rigging entangled, and Jones's crew lashed the ships together, locked side by side by Serapis' spare anchor.

    3. 23 September 1779 · North Sea off Flamborough HeadExplosion Cripples Serapis' Gun Deck

      An ignited powder charge set off a chain reaction across Serapis' rear lower gun deck, killing or burning many gunnery crewmen and disabling five guns.

    4. 23 September 1779 · North Sea off Flamborough HeadAlliance Fires into the Locked Ships

      Captain Landais ignored Bonhomme Richard's lantern signals and sailed around the locked ships firing broadsides intended for Serapis' bow and stern.

    5. 23–24 September 1779 · North Sea off Flamborough HeadSerapis Surrenders; Bonhomme Richard Sinks

      Pearson surrendered his sword as Serapis' mainmast fell; the next morning all hands abandoned Bonhomme Richard, which sank shortly before 11 am.

    6. 23 September 1779 – 1780 · North Sea off Flamborough HeadConvoy Escapes; Pearson Honoured

      Nearly every merchant ship in the convoy reached safety before the battle began; in 1780 Pearson received three silver-mounted Coconut Cups for protecting it.

Sources

  1. Battle of Flamborough Head Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-21