A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Donellan, Malachi
DONELLAN. (Commander, 1844. f-p., 19; h-p., 28.)
Malachi Donellan entered the Navy, 30 Oct. 1800, as Midshipman, on board the Leyden 64, Capt. Wm. Bedford; and was present, in Aug. 1801, in an attack made by Lord Nelson on the Boulogne flotilla. On next joining the Maidstone 32, Capt. Rich. Hussey Moubray, he sailed for the Mediterranean with despatches relative to the ratification of the treaty of Amiens; and, while on that station, he witnessed the capture, soon after the renewal of hostilities, of L’Arab national brig, of 8 guns. In Aug. 1803, he accompanied Capt. Moubray into the Active 38, in which frigate, after cruizing for some time on the Irish station, he passed the Dardanells with Sir John Duckworth in Feb. 1807, and commanded a boat at the destruction of one of the enemy’s largest frigates. Being promoted, while in the Ocean 98, flag-ship of Lord Collingwood, to the rank of Lieutenant, 1 Feb. 1808, Mr. Donellan next joined the Revenge 74, Capts. Sir John Gore, Hon. Chas. Paget, and Alex. Robt. Kerr; under whom he appears to have been actively employed at the blockade of Cadiz, and at the destruction of the French shipping in Basque Roads, 12 April, 1809. On 12 May in the latter year he removed to the Sarpedon 10, Capt. Jas. Green; as First-Lieutenant of which vessel we find him frequently commanding the boats at the capture of the enemy’s vessels under the batteries on the coast of France; and, on 15 Nov. 1810, assisting in an attack made by Capt. Grant, of the Diana, on the two French frigates Amazone and Eliza, protected by the fire of several formidable batteries near Cherbourg. Until paid off in Oct. 1815, he afterwards served in the Edinburgh 74, Capt. Robt. Rolles, on the Mediterranean station, and for three years, as First-Lieutenant, in the Childers brig, Capts. John Bedford and John Brand Umfreville. On 15 Sept. 1814, he took part in an unsuccessful attack on Fort Bowyer, Mobile Point, where the Hermes, one of the British squadron, was destroyed; and he subsequently commanded the boats at the reduction of several forts at the entrance of Pensacola Bay. His next appointment was to the command, 29 Nov. 1839, of the Crescent receiving-ship for liberated Africans, at Rio de Janeiro, where he continued upwards of four years. Since his promotion to his present rank, 14 June, 1844, Commander Donellan has been on half-pay. Agents – Hallett and Robinson.