A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Colquhoun, Humphry
COLQUHOUN. (Lieutenant, 1815. f-p., 10; h-p., 31.)
Humphry Colquhoun was born in 1793.
This officer entered the NaVy, in Nov. 1806, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Zealand 64, Capts. Alex. Ball and Robt. Devereux Fancourt, guard-ship at the Nore; and, joining next the Foxhound 18, Capts. Pitt Burnaby Greene and Jas. Mackenzie, continued to be employed in that vessel, on the Home station, until detached in command of a prize early in 1809. After an intermediate servitude, as Supernumerary-Midshipman, on board the Salvador del Mundo guard-ship at Plymouth, he became attached, in Sept. following, to the Désirée 36, Capt. Arth. Farquhar, stationed in the North Sea, where he appears to have taken part in much active boat-service, including numerous cutting-out affairs, and the capture of many of the enemy’s vessels. Having been again placed in charge of a prize, Mr. Colquhoun unfortunately, on 21 Dec. 1810, fell into the hands of the enemy, and, being shortly afterwards wrecked off an island on the coast of Holland, – where he was washed on shore, bruised, frost-bitten, and in a state of insensibility, – was sent to Valenciennes, and ultimately to Sedan. After several thwarted attempts, he at length, in Feb. 1813, contrived to effect his escape, and, arriving at Portsmouth, rejoined the Désirée, still commanded by Capt. Farquhar, with whom he subsequently sailed with convoy for Quebec in the Liverpool 40. He obtained his commission 20 March, 1815; and was afterwards employed on Lakes Ontario and Huron, under Sir Edw. W. C. R. Owen, until his return home towards the close of 1816. Since that period he has not been afloat.
Lieut. Colquhoun – who married, first, 20 Aug. 1834, and by that marriage has issue a son and daughter – espoused,secondly, in 1839, Ann, daughter of the late Rev. T. Brown, of Innerskip. Agents – Messrs. Ommanney.