A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Barton, Ralph
BARTON. (Captain, 1846. f-p., 28; h-p., 7.)
Ralph Barton entered the Navy, 2 March, 1812, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Crescent 38, Capt. John Quilliam, with whom he cruized in the Baltic, off Newfoundland, and in the West Indies, the greater part of the time as Midshipman, until Sept. 1815. He then served for four years in the East Indies, on board the Towby 24, and Bacchus 18, Capts. Hew Stewart and John Pengelly Parkin; and after a further attachment, as Admiralty Midshipman, to the Grasshopper 18, Capts. David Buchan and Jas. Bradley, and Egeria 26, Capt. Sam. Roberts, off Newfoundland, was appointed Acting-Lieutenant, 12 Sept. 1824, of the Sir Francis Drake, Lieut.-Commander Wm. Nehemiah Clarke. Being officially promoted 8 Oct. following, he subsequently joined, on the East India, Mediterranean, Lisbon, and South America stations — 17 Sept. 1825, the Hind 20, Capt. John Furneaux — 21 Oct. 1827, the Success 28, Capt. Jas. Stirling — 23 Feb. 1828, the Java 52, flag-ship of Rear-Admiral Wm. Hall Gage — 20 Nov. 1830, the Belvidera Capt. Hon. Rich. Saunders Dundas — and, 24 Jan. 1835, as First Lieutenant, the Dublin 50, bearing the flag of Sir Graham Eden Hammond. He rose to the rank he now holds 28 June, 1838; became an Inspecting-Commander in the Coast Guard 28 March, 1839; officiated, from 3 Nov. 1840, until Oct. 1843, as Second Captain of the Monarch 84, commanded, in the Mediterranean, by Capt. Sam. Chambers; and from 16 Feb. 1845, until posted, 9 Nov. 1846, was employed in a similar capacity on board the Vanguard 80, Capt. Geo. Wickens Willes, part of the Channel squadron. He is now on half-pay. Agents — Messrs. Stilwell.