A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Deans, Robert
DEANS. (Captain, 1838. f-p., 18; h-p., 25.)
Robert Deans, born 4 Oct. 1792, at Huntington, N.B., is second son of the late Admiral Deans of that place, who died in 1815.
This officer entered the Navy, 11 Jan. 1804, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Glatton 50, Capt. Jas. Colnett, flag-ship at Leith of Rear-Admiral Jas. Vashon. Until Dec. 1810 he afterwards served on the same, and on the Lisbon and Mediterranean stations, in the Texel 64, Capt. Donald Campbell, Woodlark 12, Lieut.-Commander Thos. Innes, and Kent, Royal Sovereign, Ville de Paris, and San Josef, flag-ships of Admirals Edw. Thornbrough. Lord Collingwood, and Sir Chas. Cotton. On 1 May, 1811, having been appointed Acting-Lieutenant of the Cherokee 10, Capt. Wm. Ramage, he took part, with the boats of that vessel, and of the Clio and Bellette, in an unsuccessful attempt to cut out some galliots lying at Egersund, on the coast of Norway, and on that occasion lost two fingers of the left hand, and received a musket-ball in the right arm, which has never yet been extracted. For his gallantry he was confirmed by the Admiralty 15 June following; subsequently to which we find him appointed – 19 March, 1812, and 15 Feb. 1813, to the Venerable and Stirling Castle 74’s, both commanded by Sir Home Popham – and, 23 June, 1814, 1 June, 1815, and 8 July, 1816, as Flag-Lieutenant, alternately at Leith and in the river Thames, to Sir Wm. Johnstone Hope and Sir Home Popham, in the Latona, Iris, and Ramillies. When in the Venerable, Mr. Deans was in very active command of a detachment of seamen on the north coast of Spain, where he assisted at the capture of several forts, and of the town of St, Andero. In the Stirling Castle he accompanied Earl Moira, as Governor-General, to India, and on the passage acquired the particular notice of that nobleman for his exertions in saving the lives of two seamen who had fallen overboard. The subject of this memoir, who assumed the rank of Commander 9 Sept. 1818, was afterwards appointed, on the Home and Lisbon stations, to the command, 30 April, 1827, and 24 Nov. 1829, of the Clio and Childers sloops. While in the latter vessel, which he paid off in 1832, he appears to have been senior officer of a small squadron employed in the river Douro during the struggle between Pedro and Miguel. He has not been afloat since the receipt of his Post-commission, 28 June, 1838.
Capt. Deans, in consideration of his severe wounds, was presented with a gratuity from the Patriotic Fund in 1812, but was refused a pension. he married, first, 1 Feb. 1821, Mary, eldest daughter of the late Richard Clay, Esq., of Gloucester Place, London; and secondly, 2 March, 1830, Charlotte Sophia, youngest daughter of Duncan Stewart, Esq., of Glenbuchie, co. Perth. He has issue two daughters. Agent – J. Hinxman.