A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Bastin, Robert
BASTIN. (Retired Commander, 1836. f-p., 18; h-p., 33.)
Robert Bastin, born 5 Aug. 1780, is fourth son of the late John Bastin, Esq., of Tidwell, in the parish of East Budleigh, co. Devon.
This officer entered the Navy, 14 May, 1796, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board La Nymphe 36, Capts. John Cooke, Percy Eraser, and Stair Douglas; and while in that ship on the Channel station assisted, as Midshipman, at the capture, when in company with the San Fiorenzo 36, of the French frigates La Resistance, of 48, and La Constance, of 24 guns, 9 March, 1797. After a variety of other active services, and a brief attachment to the Cambridge 80, Capt. Chas. Henry Lane, guard-ship at Plymouth, he became Master’s Mate, in May, 1802, of the Donegal 74, Capt. Sir Rich. John Strachan, and on 20 June, 1803, was appointed Acting-Lieutenant of the Belleisle 74, Capts. John Whitby and Wm. Hargood. Being confirmed to the latter ship by commission, dated 3 Sept. in the same year, he subsequently accompanied Lord Nelson to the West Indies and back in pursuit of the combined squadrons of France and Spain, and on 21 Oct. 1805, fought at Trafalgar. On 19 July, 1806, we find Mr. Bastin, who had been appointed second of the Blanche, of 46 guns and 265 men, Capt. Thos. Lavie, receiving a musket-ball through the thigh during a warm action which led to the capture, after a loss to the British of not more than 4 men wounded, of La Guerrière, French ship, of 50 guns and 317 men, 50 of whom were killed and wounded.[1] In consideration of the official mention made of him on this and other occasions, and of his wound, the subject of this memoir, on his return to Sheerness, was presented by the Patriotic Society with the sum of 200l. The Blanche, to the First-Lieutenancy of which he had succeeded on the promotion of the present Capt. H. T. Davies, being eventually wrecked off Ushant in March, 1807, he was taken prisoner, and detained in France until the peace of 1814. Unable to procure further employment, he at length, on 11 May, 1836, accepted the rank he now holds.
Commander Bastin married, 7 Oct. 1818, Miss Sarah Boucaut, of Guernsey, and has issue one daughter.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1806, p. 931.