by Richard Hiscocks | Dec 7, 2024
Mark Robinson (1753-1834) The son of an admiral, Robinson experienced intermittent employment in the French wars, without any real opportunity for distinguishing himself. For many years he was embroiled in a legal case relating to the activities of a maverick officer,...
by Richard Hiscocks | Nov 22, 2024
John Goodwin Gregory Peyton (1752-1809) Peyton’s short career was punctuated by periods of sickness and unemployment, with the high point undoubtedly his participation as one of Nelson’s ‘Band of Brothers’ at the Battle of the Nile, where his ship, the Defence, fought...
by Richard Hiscocks | Nov 14, 2024
Sir John Talbot (1768-1851) An Irish aristocrat, and a talented and respected captain, Talbot’s long and varied career saw devoted loyalty from his men on one ship when mutiny raged through the fleet, but conversely a mutiny on his next command. His employment...
by Richard Hiscocks | Oct 18, 2024
Samuel James Ballard (1765-1829) As a boy and a junior officer Ballard saw action in a number of major battles, yet lacking influence, his experience as a captain was limited, with only a couple of permanent appointments in command of a ship. Although personal glory...
by Richard Hiscocks | Sep 27, 2024
Hon. Sir Courtenay Boyle (1770-1844) Boyle’s aristocratic origins gained him almost constant employment, even during the years of peace after the American Revolutionary War. Most of his service was in European waters where he earned substantial sums of prize...
by Richard Hiscocks | Sep 21, 2024
Sir Josias Rowley 1765-1842 After a slow start Josias Rowley (scion of an influential naval family) enjoyed a notably successful career. His 1809-10 campaign in the Indian Ocean was so spectacular that Patrick O’Brian used it as the basis for events in his Jack Aubrey...
by Richard Hiscocks | Jul 28, 2024
Robert Mostyn c1759- 1784. Mostyn was commissioned lieutenant on 23 September 1778 and was aboard the Crescent 28, Captain Hon. Thomas Pakenham, at the second relief of Gibraltar on 12 April 1781. Shortly afterwards, being in company with the Flora 36, Captain William...
by Richard Hiscocks | Jul 19, 2024
James Robert Mosse 1745- 1801. Baptised on 5 December 1745, he came from a naval family, being the son of John Mosse of Great Missenden in Buckinghamshire, and of his wife, Jane Bur. On 6 August 1757 Mosse entered the Navy aboard the Burford 68, Captain James Young,...
by Richard Hiscocks | Jul 3, 2024
George Bowen (2) c1762-1800. He was the third son of George Bowen of Lwyngwair, Pembrokeshire, and of his wife, Esther Thomas. One of his cousins was a namesake, Admiral George Bowen. Bowen was commissioned lieutenant on 23 October 1783, and from September 1793 he...
by Richard Hiscocks | Jun 16, 2024
William Lechmere 1752- 1815. Born in Powick, Worcestershire, he was the son of an elderly father, Richard Lechmere, and of his wife, Elizabeth Corfield, and was also the nephew of the Whig politician, Lord Nicholas Lechmere, and of Captain Edward Lechmere, both of...
by Richard Hiscocks | Jun 9, 2024
Richard Bagot Died 1798. Little is known of his early career, but during the Spanish Armament Bagot was commissioned lieutenant on 28 October 1790 of the Director 64, Captain Edward Dod, remaining with this ship until the following March when he removed to the...
by Richard Hiscocks | Jun 2, 2024
William Browell 1759-1831. He was the son of William Browell, a midshipman who had served under Admiral of the Fleet Lord George Anson. His brother, Captain Herbert Browell, died of yellow fever in the West Indies in 1796. In late 1770, Browell entered the navy aboard...
by Richard Hiscocks | May 28, 2024
John Maitland 1771-1836. Born in Scotland to a prominent military family, he was the youngest son of Colonel Hon. Richard Maitland, himself a younger son of the Earl of Lauderdale, and of his wife Mary McAdam, who had been born in New York. He was the nephew of...
by Richard Hiscocks | May 11, 2024
Joshua Rowley Watson 1772-1818. Born on 17 April 1772 at Topsham, Devon, he was the son of Captain Thomas Watson, who died in action in the Leeward Islands in May 1780 whilst commanding the Conqueror 74, and of his wife Mary Burges, who died in 1774. Following his...
by Richard Hiscocks | Apr 26, 2024
Loftus Otway Bland 1771-1810. Descended from an old Yorkshire family, he was born in Ireland, the son of Captain Neville Bland of Dublin, and of his wife, Charlotte Smith. Bland was commissioned lieutenant on 6 September 1794 whilst serving aboard the Lively 32,...
by Richard Hiscocks | Apr 4, 2024
Sir Davidge Gould 1758-1847. He was born in Bridgwater, Somerset, to an influential family, the son of Richard Gould of Sharpham Park, near Wells, and of his wife, Susan Maundrell. Gould joined the navy in 1772 as a volunteer aboard the Alarm 32, Captain John Stott,...
by Richard Hiscocks | Mar 15, 2024
William Smith Died c1806. Smith was commissioned lieutenant on 4 November 1780, promoted commander on 23 December 1782, and during the Spanish Armament was posted captain of the Danae 32 on 21 September 1790, retaining her until 22 November but not apparently taking...
by Richard Hiscocks | Feb 18, 2024
Adam Littlejohn Died 1795. Littlejohn was commissioned lieutenant on 31 March 1780. A protégé of Vice-Admiral William Hotham, he served with that officer aboard the Princess Royal 98, Captain John Holloway, from 29 December 1790 until 9 September 1791, at which time...
by Richard Hiscocks | Jan 31, 2024
John Ayscough 1777- 1863. The son of Commander James Ayscough, he was reportedly born on board the sloop Swan 14 on 12 December 1777 during an action ashore at Southold on Long Island, New York, which saw his father, the commander of the vessel, lose a leg. His...
by Richard Hiscocks | Jan 23, 2024
Sir Henry Hotham 1777-1833. He was born on 19 February 1777, the third and youngest surviving son of Beaumont Hotham, the second Baron Hotham of South Dalton, Yorkshire, a judge and M.P., and of his wife, Susanna Hankey. He was the nephew of Admiral Lord William...
by Richard Hiscocks | Jan 14, 2024
Sir Pulteney Malcolm 1768-1838. He was born at Douglen, Dumfriesshire, on 20 February 1768, the third son of seventeen children of a farm manager, George Malcolm of Burnfoot, Dumfriesshire, and of his wife, Margaret Pasley. Of his older brothers, John Malcolm was an...
by Richard Hiscocks | Dec 30, 2023
Sir David Milne 1763-1845. He was born on 25 May 1763 at Musselburgh near Edinburgh, the son of David Milne, a silk merchant, and of his wife, Susan Vernor. After an education in Edinburgh, Milne entered the Navy in May 1779 aboard the Canada 74, Captain Hugh...
by Richard Hiscocks | Dec 14, 2023
Frederick Watkins 1770- 1856. He was born on 14 October 1770. Watkins was one of the many officers commissioned lieutenant on 20 November 1790 at the conclusion of the Spanish Armament, and he was appointed to the Vigilant 64 for apparent purposes of rank only. On 7...
by Richard Hiscocks | Dec 5, 2023
Sir Edward William Campbell Rich Owen 1771-1849. He was born on 19 Feb 1771 at Campobello, Nova Scotia, the illegitimate son of Captain William Owen, who was from a Welsh family long established in Montgomeryshire, and of his housekeeper, Sarah Haslam. His father lost...
by Richard Hiscocks | Dec 3, 2023
Thomas Roger Eyles c1769- 1835. He was the son of Thomas Eyles of Stratton Audley in Oxfordshire, and of his wife, Ann Woodward Baxter. Eyles was commissioned lieutenant of the Hero 74 for purposes of rank only on 22 November 1790, being one of many officers advanced...
by Richard Hiscocks | Oct 27, 2023
Anselm John Griffiths c1769-1842. He was the son of the Rev. John Griffiths of Kingston-upon-Thames. In January 1781 Griffiths joined the Navy aboard the Juno 32, Captain James Montagu, serving in home waters, and on 22 November 1790 he was commissioned lieutenant of...
by Richard Hiscocks | Sep 13, 2023
Robert Haswell c1724-1800. Haswell appears to have joined the Navy in May 1737, and he was commissioned lieutenant on 8 July 1744. On 26 March 1762 he was promoted commander of the bomb vessel Thunder 14 by Rear-Admiral George Rodney in the West Indies, serving at the...
by Richard Hiscocks | Jul 24, 2023
George Miller Bligh 1780-1834. He was born on 4 May 1780 at Alverstoke, Hampshire, the only surviving son of Admiral Sir Richard Rodney Bligh and of his first wife, Ann Worsley of Gatcomb Park, Isle of Wight. Having entered the Navy in 1794, Bligh served with his...
by Richard Hiscocks | Jul 5, 2023
Herbert Browell Died 1796. He was the son of William Browell, a midshipman who had served under Admiral of the Fleet Lord George Anson. His brother was Captain William Browell. Browell was commissioned lieutenant on 8 October 1779, and in April 1783 he was briefly...
by Richard Hiscocks | May 21, 2023
Sir Robert Laurie 1764-1848. He was born on 25 May 1764, the only son of Lieutenant-General Sir Robert Laurie, 5th baronet, the M.P. for Dumfriesshire from 1774 to 1804, and of his wife, Elizabeth Mary, the daughter of the 6th Lord Ruthven. Laurie joined the Navy on...
