A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Daly, Cuthbert Featherstone
DALY, C.B. (Rear-Admiral of the Blue, 1846. f-p., 13; h-p., 40.)
Cuthbert Featherstone Daly is second son of the late Denis Daly, Esq., of Castle Daly, co. Westmeath, by Miss Harriet King; brother of Denis Daly, Esq., Brigade-Major at Portsmouth; and uncle of Lieut. John Daly, R.N.
This officer entered the Navy, 17 Feb. 1794, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Andromache 38, Capt. Theophilus Jones, with whom he continued to serve, on the Newfoundland, Lisbon, and Channel stations, as Midshipman and Master’s Mate of the Trident 64, Glory 98, Prince George 98, and Defiance 74, and as Lieutenant (commission dated 30 Sept. ISOO;) of the Atlas 98, until April, 1802. Being appointed Senior, 1 March, 1803, of the Arrow, of 28 32-pounder oarronades and 132 men, Capt. Rich. Budd Vincent, he subsequently, in June, 1804, obtained the official praise of that officer for the spirited manner in which, with the boats, he boarded, cut adrift, and then destroyed, under the island of Fano, at the entrance of the Adriatic, L’Actif French privateer, of 4 guns, although moored with three anchors, attached by a hawser from the masthead to the cliff above her, and defended by a heavy cross-fire from the crew on board, and from the rocks, beach, and houses. On 4 Feb. 1805, the Arrow, and her consort the Acheron bomb, were both captured by the French 40 and 38-gun frigates Hortense and Incorruptible, after a noble resistance of several hours, in which the former ship lost 13 men killed and 27 wounded, and was so shattered that she immediately afterwards settled on her beam-ends, and went down. Lieut. Daly, who was detained a prisoner at Carthagena until the following July, next became first of the Diadem 64, Commodore Sir Home Popham, and, on proceeding to the Cape of Good Hope, was present at its surrender to the British in Jan. 1806. He was then sent home with the despatches in the Seahorse transport, and on his arrival was promoted to the rank of Commander, 10 April, 1806. Assuming charge, 8 Jan. 1807, of the Comet, of 18 guns, Capt. Daly next cruized with great activity on the north coast of Spain, where, in command of four boats belonging to his own vessel and to the Cossack, he landed, on 23 June, 1808, spiked all the guns in Fort St. Salvador de Ano and Fort Sedra, near the town of St. Andero, and was severely scorched in destroying two magazines.[1] On 11 Aug. following he very gallantly went in pursuit of three of the enemy’s corvettes, one of which, La Sylphe, of 18 guns, he ultimately brought to close action, and in 20 minutes compelled to surrender.[2] For his distinguished conduct on this occasion he was rewarded with a Post commission, dated on 18 of the same month. From 15 May to 14 July, 1812, he afterwards commanded the Barham 74, in the North Sea, but since the latter period he has been on half-pay. His advancement to Flag-rank took place 9 Nov. 1846.
Rear-Admiral Daly, who has received rewards, both honorary and pecuniary, from the Patriotic Fund, was nominated a C.B. 20 July, 1838, and awarded the good service pension 19 Feb. 1842. He was left a widower, with several children, 14 Aug. 1841.. Agents – Messrs. Halford and Co.