A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Du Cane, Charles
DU CANE. (Commander, 1815. f-p., 14; h-p., 30.)
Charles Du Cane entered the Navy, 26 June, 1803, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Beaver 14, Capts. Chas. Pelly and Chas. Mars Gregory, stationed in the North Sea, where he attained the rating of Midshipman in June, 1804. From Aug. 1805, until April, 1809, we find him employed, under Capts. Pelly and Jas. Alex. Gordon, in the Mercury 28, and Active 38; as Master’s Mate of the former of which ships he served in the boats, with Lieut. Allan Stewart, at the cutting-out, 4 April, 1808, of seven Spanish tartans from under the very muzzles of the guns in the batteries at Rota.[1]’ Rejoining Capt. Pelly, in July, 1809, on board the Bucephalus 36, Mr. Du Cane presently attended the expedition to the Walcheren, and, during the operations against that island, had command of a gun-boat. On its evacuation he returned to port as Acting-Lieutenant of the Parthian brig, Capt. Hon. Henry Dawson. Being confirmed by the Admiralty on 2 Dec. 1809, he next, in succession, joined the Egeria 18, Capt. Lewis Hole, and Egmont and Spencer 74’s, Capts. Joseph Bingham and Rich. Raggett, employed on the Home and North American stations. He attained the rank he now holds 30 Aug. 1815, and afterwards, in 1824-5, officiated as Inspecting-Commander of the Coast Guard. He has since, we believe, been on the half-pay list.
Commander Du Cane married, in 1823, Frances, second daughter of the Rev. C. Prideaux Brune, of Prideaux Place, co. Cornwall.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1808, p. 570.