A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Boys, Edward
BOYS. (Commander, 1814. f-p., 22; h-p., 29.)
Edward Boys entered the Navy, in 1796, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Overyssel 64, Capt. Wm. Swaffleld, on the North Sea station; joined, next, the Ethalion 38, Capt. Geo. Countess, one of Sir John Borlase Warren’s ships at the capture, in Oct. 1798, of Commodore Bompart’s squadron, consisting of Le Hoche 74, and several frigates, of whom La Bellone 36 struck to the Ethalion, after a close engagement of an hour and 54 minutes, on the coast of Ireland; became, after participating in the capture of L’Infatigable privateer, of 18 guns and 120 men. Midshipman of the Robust 74, Capts. Countess and Wm. Brown, 16 April, 1799; served, from Oct. 1800 until paid off, 26 April, 1802, as Master’s Mate in the Royal Sovereign 100, flagship, in the Channel likewise, of Sir Hen. Harvey and, in June following, joined the Phoebe 36, Capts. Shepheord and Hon. Thos. Bladen Capel, on the Mediterranean station. He subsequently, in 1803, commanded one of the boats of that frigate in a disastrous attack on two French privateers off Civita Vecchia, when the former were repulsed, with the loss of 8 killed and wounded; and, on 4 Aug. in the same year, while prize-master of a settee, one of two at the taking of which he had a few days previously assisted, he was captured by a French squadron. On escaping from captivity, 10 May, 1809,[1] Mr. Boys was immediately allowed to pass his examination, and, in a few days afterwards, the 25th, was appointed liieutenant of the Arachne 18, Capts. Sam. Chambers and Chas. Hope Watson, in which sloop, after attending the expedition to the Walcheren, he proceeded to the West Indies, where for a short period he officiated as Acting-Commander. His subsequent appointments, as Lieutenant, were, in 1813-14, to the Rhin 38, Capt. Chas. Malcolm, Queen 74, Capt. Lord John Colville, and Venerable 74, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Philip Chas. Durham, all likewise stationed in the West Indies. He was confirmed in the command of the Dunira of 18 guns, 8 July, 1814, but in Sept. following was placed on half-pay, and has not since been afloat. He was latterly employed, from 16 Sept. 1837 until the close of 1841, as Superintendent of the Dockyard at Deal.
He is married, and has a second son, Henry, a Lieut. R.N. His third son, Richard, a young officer of the greatest promise, was killed in the boats of H.M.S. Fantome, during an affray with some pirates on the coast of Barbary, 12 May, 1846.
- ↑ For an account of the manner in which Commander Boys effected his emancipation from imprisonment, we refer our readers to his ‘Narrative of a Captivity and Adventures in France and Flanders between the years 1603 and 1809,’ – a volume of stirring interest, published in 1827. In 1831 appeared his ‘Remarks on the Practicability and Advantages of a Sandwich or Downs Harbour.’