A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Dunstan, Octavius
DUNSTAN. (Lieut., 1815. f-p., 9; h-p., 32.)
Octavius Dunstan, born 26 Oct. 1792, is brother of the late Mr. Dunstan, Master of H.M.S. Jason 32, who was lost while commanding a tender in a violent hurricane off Tortola in 1806.
This officer entered the Navy, 24 April, 1806, as a Supernumerary, on board the Dolphin 44, Capt. Dan. Tandy, bearing the flag of Sir Alex. Cochrane in the West Indies; where he afterwards became attached to the Northumberland 74, flag-ship of the same officer, and, as Midshipman and Master’s Mate, to the Jason 32, and Ethalion 38, both commanded by Capt. Thos. John Cochrane. When in the Jason, Mr. Dunstan assisted at the capture, 27 Jan. 1807, of La Favorite French national ship, mounting 16 long sixes and 13 4-pounder carronades, vith a complement of 150 men; and for three months he commanded a schooner as a tender. He took part, on his removal to the Ethalion, in a slight encounter with the French 40-gun frigate Amphitrite, in the latter part of 1808; had charge of a boat during the operations against Martinique in Feb. 1809; and co-operated in the ensuing reduction of the Saintes. After a brief servitude, towards the close of 1810, in the Marlborough 74, Capt. Graham Moore, and Royal William, bearing the flag of Sir Rich. Bickerton, Mr. Dunstan joined the Donegal 74, Capt. Pulteney Malcolm; under whom, on 15 Nov. in the same year, we find him 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. From March, 1811, to Nov. 1813, he next served on board the Poictiers 74, Capt. John Poo Beresford; and while in that ship, on the Home station, he appears to have been frequently detached in command of a boat, for the purpose of cutting out the enemy’s vessels, and of otherwise annoying them. Proceeding, subsequently, to North America, Mr. Dunstan witnessed the capture of the United States brig Wasp, of 18 guns, and, after conducting that vessel to Bermuda, officiated for some time as Acting-Lieutenant of the Frolic. On rejoining the Poictiers he assisted, among other captures, in making prize of the York Town East Indiaman, which was ultimately ransomed for 45,000l.; after which he was appointed, in Nov. 1813, Master’s Mate of La Hogue 74, Capt. Hon. Thos. Bladen Capel. On 8 April, 1814, having accompanied a detachment of six boats under Capt. Rich. Coote to the neighbourhood of Pettipagne Point, on the river Connecticut, he there contributed to the gallant destruction of 27 of the enemy’s vessels, three of which were heavy privateers, and the aggregate burden of the whole inwards of 5000 tons. In the following summer Mr. Dunstan joined the Surprize 38, commanded by his old Captain, Sir Thos. John Cochrane, of which ship, after serving on shore during the unsuccessful attack on Baltimore, he was created an Acting-Lieutenant 12 Oct. 1814. He continued to be very actively and responsibly employed on the coast of America until the conclusion of hostilities, when he returned home, and found that he had been officially promoted by commission dated 7 Feb. 1815. With the exception of a temporary command, in 1829-30, of H.M. hired-packet Princess Elizabeth, he has not since been able to procure employment. Lieut. Dunstan has been Superintendent, since 1834, of the Bodmin and Wadebridge Railway. He married, 9 May, 1820, Joice, daughter of Rich. Vercoe, Esq., of Bodmin, co. Cornwall; and by that lady, who died 5 March, 1843, had issue two sons and a daughter. His eldest son, who was in the Royal Engineers, died at Jamaica in July, 1840.