A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Austen, Francis William (b)
AUSTEN. (Commander, 1841. f-p., 18; h-p., 7.)
Francis William Austen, born 12 July, 1809, is eldest son of Vice-Admiral Sir F. W. Austen K.C.B.
This officer entered the Royal Naval College 11 Feb. 1822; and embarked, 20 June, 1823, as a Volunteer, on board the Revenge 78, Capt. Sir Chas. Burrard, flag-ship in the Mediterranean of Vice-Admiral Sir Harry Burrard Neale. After officiating for nearly four years as Midshipman on the same station, of the Seringapatam 46 and Pelican 18, Capts. Chas. Sotheby and Wm. Alex. Baillie Hamilton, under the former of whom he saw much anti-piratical boat service, Mr. Austen was appointed Mate, in Aug. 1828, of the Blonde 46, Capt. Edm. Lyons, and during his continuance in that ship was employed on shore in co-operation with the French army at the ensuing reduction of the Morea Castle, which surrendered after a siege of eight days. Attaining the rank of Lieutenant, 30 April, 1830, he afterwards joined in that capacity, on the North America, West India, and Africa stations, 22 Nov. following, the Gannet 18, Capt. Mark Halpen Sweny – 23 Feb. 1832, the Tweed 20, Capts. Allan Bertram and Henry Geo. Hamilton – 12 Oct. 1835, as Senior, the Wanderer 16, Capts. Thos. Dilke and Thos. Bushby – and, 1 March, 1841, as Lieut.-Commander, the Bonetta brigantine, of 3 guns. While in the Tweed, of which vessel he appears to have acted as Captain during a period of great mortality, Mr. Austen commanded her boats for the suppression of slavery off the Isle of Pines, and on one occasion had the misfortune, through the bursting of a powder-horn, to lose the use of the fore-finger and thumb of his right hand. He assumed his present rank 23 Nov. 1841; and since 10 Nov. 1845, has been in command of the Alecto steam-sloop, on the south-east coast of America.
Commander Austen married, 13 July, 1843, his cousin, Frances Palmer, third daughter of Rear-Admiral C. J. Austen, R.N., C.B. Agent – Joseph Woodhead.