A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Beaumont, Francis
BEAUMONT. (Retired Commander, 1844. f-p., 15; h-p., 33.)
Francis Beaumontt (b) was born in 1787.
This officer entered the Navy, 7 Aug. 1799, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board La Juste 80, Capts. Sir Henry Trollope, Rich. Dacres, and Sir Edm. Nagle, in which ship he proceeded to the West Indies, with the squadron under Sir Robt. Calder, in supposed pursuit of the French Admiral Ganteaume. He next, in Aug. 1802, joined, as Midshipman, La Déterminée 24, armeé en flûte, Capts. Alex. Skene and Alex. Becher, and, after being wrecked off Jersey 26 March, 1803, became attached to the Dreadnought 98, flag-ship in the Channel of Hon. Wm. Comwallis, commanded, afterwards, by Capt. John Child Purvis, and also by Capt. Robt. Carthew Reynolds, whom he accompanied, in Aug. 1804, into the Princess Royal 98. In Oct. 1807, Mr. Beaumont, who had passed his examination about Oct. 1805, became Lieutenant of the St. Albans 64, Capts. Fras. Wm. Austen, Edw. Brace, and Chas. Grant, to which ship he was confirmed by commission dated 11 Jan. 1808. Continuing to serve under the latter officer until April, 1812, he appears to have been employed in escorting to Sir Arthur Wellesley, in Portugal, the reinforcement of troops destined to share in the battle of Vimeiro; also in protecting various convoys of ludiamen to and from the Cape of Good Hope and China; in further conveying to Algesiras Gen. Graham, afterwards Lord Lynedoch, upon whom the St. Albans was in attendance at the battle of Barossa; and in co-operating with the Spaniards at the defence of Cadiz, where he came into frequent collision with the enemy’s gun-boats and batteries. On 16 April, 1812, he removed with Capt. Grant to the Armada 74, on the Mediterranean station; and while there he witnessed Sir Edw. Pellew’s second partial encounter with the French fleet off Toulon, and assisted at the capture of several batteries near Leghorn, and of the fortress of Savona near Genoa. He was paid off 29 Sept. 1814, and has not since been employed. His acceptance of the rank he now holds took place 19 Oct. 1844.
Commander Beaumont, who married, first, in 1816, and, again, in 1824, has issue a daughter.