A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Connolly, Richard Lock
CONNOLLY. (Retired Commander, 1845. f-p., 21; h-p., 31.)
Richard Lock Connolly, born 10 July, 1785, at Portsmouth, is a younger brother of Commander Mat. Connolly, R.N.
This officer entered the Navy, 26 Sept. 1795, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Theseus 74, Capt. Herbert Browell, flag-ship afterwards of Sir Horatio Nelson; in which we find him sharing, during the month of July, 1797, in the bombardment of Cadiz and the expedition to Teneriffe; as also in the battle of the Nile, 1 Aug. 1798. On next joining the Emerald 36, Capt. Thos. Moutray Waller, he assisted, as Midshipman, at the blockade of Alexandria; after which he served, until Feb. 1805, in the Prince of Wales 98, bearing the flag of Sir Robt. Calder, Hercule 74, Capt. Solomon Ferris, Driver, Leander, and Lapwing, all commanded by Capt. Fras. Wm. Fane, and Hibernia, flag-ship of Lord Gardner, on the West India, Halifax, and Home stations. Being then appointed Sub-Lieutenant of the Tigress gun-brig, Lieut.-Commander Edw. Nathaniel Greensword, he came frequently into contact with the Boulogne flotilla; and on one occasion was so severely wounded as to elicit a pecuniary reward from the Patriotic Fund. Having been created, 29 Jan. 1807, full Lieutenant of the Electra 18, Capt. Geo. Barne Trollope, on the Mediterranean station, Mr. Connolly next witnessed the evacuation, in Feb. 1808, of the small fortress of Scylla, in Lower Calabria; and, on 25 March following, was wrecked at the entrance of Port Augusta, between Syracuse and Messina. He appears to have been subsequently appointed – 18 Sept. 1811, to the Venerable 74, Capt. Sir Home Riggs Popham, off Cherbourg – 15 Feb. 1813, to the Royal William 84, flag-ship at Spithead of Sir Rich. Bickerton – 27 July, 1813, and 23 Nov. 1814, as First-Lieutenant, to the Prince 98, Capt. Geo. Fowke, and Akbar 50, flag-ship off Flushing and Halifax of Rear-Admirals Sir Thos. Byam Martin and Edw. Grifflth – and, 11 Sept. 1818, to the Ramillies 74, bearing the flag at Portsmouth of Sir Geo. Campbell. Commander Connolly, who has been on half-pay since 1821, assumed his present rank 21 Feb. 1845.