A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Black, Archibald
BLACK. (Retired Commander, 1843. f-p., 16; h-p., 37.)
Archibald Black was born 16 Dec. 1770.
This officer entered the Navy, 30 Dec. 1794, as Midshipman, on board the Canada 74, Capt. Chas. Powell Hamilton, whom he shortly afterwards accompanied into the Prince 98, both ships attached to the fleet in the Channel. He next joined the Queen 98, bearing the flag of Sir Hyde Parker on the Jamaica station, where, from 1797 to 1800, he served as Acting-Master in the Drake 16, Capt. John Parkins, Renommée 44, Capt. Robt. Rolles and Maidstone 32, Capt. Ross Donnelly. On his return to the West Indies in 1801, after having been employed for a few months on board the Cambridge guardship at Plymouth, during which period he passed his examination, Mr. Black became Master’s Mate of the Sans Pareil 80, bearing the flag of Lord Hugh Seymour. He subsequently obtained command, as Acting-Lieutenant, of tiie prison-ship at Port-Royal, and at the peace returned home in a similar capacity on board the Brunswick 74, Capt. Stevenson, but could not procure his commission, in consequence of recent regulations which neutralized his servitude as Acting-Master. In 1805 Mr. Black resumed his professional duties, as Master’s Mate, in the Hercule 74, flag-ship at Jamaica of Vice-Admiral Jas. Rich. Dacres, from which he was promoted, 26 Feb. 1806, to a Sub-Lieutenancy in the Reindeer 18, Capt. John Fife. Being at length made full Lieutenant, 27 May, 1807, in the Pelican 18, Capts. Wm. Ward, Isaac Hawkins Morrison, and Edw. Henry A’Court, he co-operated in the ensuing bombardment of Copenhagen; and, in 1810, commanded the boats of that sloop in a night-attack on an armed felucca, carrying 50 men, in Campeachy Bay, which vessel, together with all the other craft in the harbour, he succeeded in bringing out, although opposed by the heavy fire of several forts and the small arms of the various crews. He had previously taken part in many expeditions of a similar nature, and on one occasion had been very severely wounded. He was placed on half-pay in 1812; and, unable to procure further employment, accepted the rank he now holds 10 Feb. 1843.
Commander Black married, 13 Aug. 1813, Miss Jane Currie, and has issue a son and three daughters.