A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Dawson, Gilbert Francis
DAWSON. (Lieut., 1824. f-p., 19; h-p., 15.)
Gilbert Francis Dawson, born 14 April, 1800, is youngest son of the late Fras. Dawson, Esq., of Fordham Abbey, near Newmarket; brother of Commander John Francis Dawson, R.N., who was killed, while in command of a division of the British flotilla during the Burmese war, 2 Dec. 1825; and first-cousin, maternally, of Viscount Canterbury.
This officer entered the Navy, 18 March, 1813, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Warspite 74, Capts. Hon. Sir Henry Blackwood and Lord Jas. O’Bryen; and, on eventually proceeding to North America, removed as Midshipman, in 1814, to the Iphigenia 36, Capt. Andrew King. From 1816 to 1820 we next find him in the East Indies on board the Conway 28, Capt. John Reynolds, and Leander 50, flag-ship of Sir H. Blackwood. He then for a brief period joined the Queen Charlotte, bearing the flag at Portsmouth of Sir Jas. Hawkins Whitshed; and, for about three years, was afterwards employed in the West Indies as a passed Midshipman of the Thracian 18, Capt. John Walter Roberts, and Grecian cutter, Lieut.-Commander John Cawley. On 31 March, 1823, in command, we believe, of the boats of the Thracian and Tyne, he captured the Zaragozana, a piratical schooner. He obtained his commission 28 June, 1824; and was subsequently appointed, chiefly in the West Indies – 6 July following, to the Diamond 46, Capt. Lord Napier – next, to the Bustard 10, Capt. Williams Sandon – 11 Feb. 1826, as First-Lieutenant, to the Britomart 10, Capt. Fred. Chamier – 18 Sept. 1828, to the Nimrod 20, Capt. Sam. Radford – and, 9 Oct. 1829, to the Hyacinth 18, Capt. Robt. Milborne Jackson. Since 1832, in which year he invalided home, Lieut. Dawson has not been ofiicially afloat. The subject of this sketch, since he left the Hyacinth, has been in command of various merchantships and steam-boats. From 1840 to 1841 he was employed as a Police Magistrate in New Zealand. He married, first, Marguerite Jane, daughter of John Paddock, Esq., Staff Surgeon in the Army; and secondly, 29 Nov. 1841, Harriott Heywood, daughter of W. H. Styles, Esq., of New House Farm, North Fleet, co. Kent. He has issue four children.