A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Davies, Richard Longfield
DAVIES. (Retired Commander, 1843. f-p., 10; h-p., 43.)
Richard Longfield Davies was born 28 Nov. 1775, in the county of Cork, and died 15 May, 1846. He was the 17th child of a late Clergyman of the Established Church.
This officer entered the Navy, 9 April, 1793, as A.B., on board the Medusa 50, Capt. Jas. Norman; and on subsequently removing, as Midshipman, to the Ceres 32, Capt. Rich. Incledon, assisted at the reduction of the French West India islands, in 1794. Under the same officer, in the Vengeance, he next officiated at the storming of Fleur d’Epée and Pointe-à-Pitre, in the island of Guadeloupe; after which he rejoined Capt. Norman, as Master’s Mate, in the Medusa, and was eventually present in a similar capacity on board the Namur 90, Capt. Jas. Hawkins Whitshed, in Sir John Jervis’ action, 14 Feb. 1797. In Sept. following, he removed from the Ville de Paris 110, flag-ship of Earl St. Vincent, to an Acting-Lieutenancy in the Alexander 74, Capt. Alex. Ball; and on next joining the Majestic 74, Capts. Geo. Blagden Westcott and Robt. Cuthbert, he filled the same post at the battle of the Nile, 1 Aug. 1798. On that occasion Mr. Davies commanded the boarders and firemen, and for his general exertions was publicly thanked by his Captain. Being confirmed; after many other active services, particularly on the Neapolitan coast, by commission dated 8 June, 1799, he was subsequently appointed – 27 Dec. 1799, to the Active 38, Capt. Chas. Sydney Davers, in the Channel – in 1801-2, to the Shark 16, commanded by Capt. Jas.Carthew and for some time by himself, Sans Pareil 80, flagship of Admiral Rich. Montagu, and Syren 32, Capt. John Wentworth Loring, on the Jamaica station – and, 21 Feb. 1803, to the Aurora 28, Capt. Micajah Malton. In command at first of the boats belonging to the latter frigate, manned with only 27 men, and then in a tender, we find him taking successively possession of the islands St. Pierre and Miquelon, at the former of which places, after destroying all the guns and ammunition, he kept 140 prisoners in check for 24 hours, until he was relieved by the arrival of the ship.[1] The subject of this sketch, who was placed on half-pay 25 Dec. 1803, became a Retired Commander on the Junior list 1 Dec. 1830; and on the Senior, 28 July, 1843.
He married, 29 Dec. 1803, a daughter of the Rev. John Marshall, Rector of Orsett, and Chaplain to King George IV.; and has left issue four children. Agents – Messrs. Halford and Co.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1838, p. 1438.