A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Day, Charles Estcourt
DAY. (Retired Commander, 1846. f-p., 15; . h-p., 34.)
Charles Estcourt Day entered the Navy, 1 Nov. 1798, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the St. George 98, Capts. John Holloway and Sampson Edwards, employed in the Channel and off the coast of Spain. In Feb. 1801, having attained the rating of Midshipman two years previously, he removed to the San Josef 110, Capts. Wm. Wolseley and Jas. Carpenter; and, on next joining the Hercule 74, commanded by Capt. Solomon Ferris, and, during the absence of that officer, by Lieut. John B. Hills, he witnessed the capture, between 28 June and 1 July, 1803, of La Mignonne of 16, and La Créole of 32 guns, and partook of a stiff running fight with the 40-gun frigate La Poursuivante, near St. Nicolas Mole, St. Domingo. He afterwards visited the Mediterranean in the Leviathan 74, Capt. Henry Wm. Bayntun, whence he returned to the West Indies in 1805, in pursuit of the Franco-Spanish fleet. On his subsequent arrival home in La Prévoyante store-ship, Master-Commander Daniel M‘Coy, Mr. Day joined the Windsor Castle 98, Capt. Chas. Boyles, under whom, after viewing Sir Sam. Hood’s capture of four French frigates off Rochefort, 25 Sept. 1806, he passed the Dardanells in Feb. 1807, and served on shore in the attack on the island of Prota. Being promoted to a Lieutenancy, 27 Dec. 1808, in -the Norge 74, Capt. John Sprat Rainier, he next served for some time off Lisbon and in the Mediterranean, and, in 1810-11, commanded a gun and mortar boat at the defence of Cadiz. Mr. Day – whose ensuing appointments were, on 19 Feb. 1812, and 16 July, 1813, to the Impétueux, bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Geo. Martin, and Devonshire 74, Capt. Ross Donnelly – held command, from July, 1812, to April, 1813, of the armed schooner Wellington, tender to the Impétueux. In that vessel he appears to have been employed between Lisbon, Cadiz, and Gibraltar, in conveying despatches and freights of Government money, and on other particular services. Having been on half-pay since the peace, he accepted, 3 Nov. 1846, the rank of Retired Commander.