A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Dale, Alfred
DALE. (Retired Commander, 1844. f-p., 17; h-p., 31.)
Alfred Dale is son of Thos. Dale, Esq., M.D., of London, one of the founders, and for many years a Registrar of the Literary Fund Institution.
This officer entered the Navy, 1 Sept. 1799, as a Boy, on board the Clyde 38, Capt. Chas. Cunningham, stationed in the Channel, and attained the rating of Midshipman 27 June, 1800. On removing, in April, 1802, to the La Dédaigneuse 36, Capts. Thos. Geo. Shortland, Peter Heywood, and Wm. Beauchamp Proctor, he sailed for the East Indies, where he was captured, while in charge of a prize, in Dec. 1803. He remained a prisoner in the Isle of France until exchanged, in July, 1805; then rejoined his previous ship; and, on 25 Sept. 1806, was promoted from the Culloden 74, bearing the flag of Sir Edw. Pellew, to an Acting-Lieutenancy in the Pitt alias Salsette 36, Capt. Walter Bathurst, to which frigate, after accompanying Lord Gambler in his expedition against Copenhagen, he was confirmed by the Admiralty, 21 Oct. 1807. He next assisted at the bombardment of Flushing; and was subsequently appointed – 2 Aug. 1810, and 1 Oct. 1812, to the Belle Poule 38, and Pembroke 74, both commanded by Capt. Jas. Brisbane – and, 19 June [errata 1] 1813, and 3 Dec. 1814, to the Laurel 38, and Amelia 38, each commanded by Capt. Hon. Granville Leveson Proby. During his attachment to the last-mentioned ship, Mr. Dale served on the Mediterranean and Cape stations – was much employed in boat-duty – and received the thanks of Lord Exmouth for his conduct in landing, in July, 1815, with a party of seamen and marines on the island of Elba, and effecting the capture of a packet of 6 guns and 40 men, commanded by a Lieutenant of the French Navy. Commander Dale, who has not been afloat since he was paid off in July, 1816, assumed his present rank 24 July, 1844.