A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Ellis, Francis Wilson
ELLIS. (Lieut., 1812. f-p., 10; h-p., 33.)
Francis Wilson Ellis is youngest brother of Retired Commander John Ellis, R.N.
This officer entered the Navy, 1 Nov. 1804, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Cruizer 18, Capts. John Hancock, Pringle Stoddart, Geo. Chas. Mackenzie, Thos. Wells, and Thos. Rich. Toker; under whom, in the North Sea and Baltic, he continued successively to serve, the greater part of the time as Midshipman, until June, 1810. During that period, one of very active service, he assisted at the capture of three privateers, carrying altogether 47 guns – was frequently employed in cutting out vessels in the very teeth of the enemy’s batteries – witnessed the surrender, in 1807, of the Danish fleet off Copenhagen, whence he was sent to England in charge of one of the prizes – commanded the Cruizer’s tender during the embarkation of the Marquis de la Romana’s army from Nyeborg, in Aug. 1808 – and, for his ability and zeal on every occasion, repeatedly received the thanks of his superiors, and was reported as “entitled to every indulgence the service could grant.” On leaving the Cruizer Mr, Ellis joined the Formidable 98, Capt. Jas. Nicoll Morris, and, after a further servitude in the Roebuck and Solebay, flag-ships at Yarmouth of Vice-Admiral Robt. Murray, was appointed, 8 Nov. 1811, Acting-Lieutenant in command of the British Fair hired armed cutter. He afterwards served, as Acting-Lieutenant, in his old ship the Cruizer, Capt. T. K. Toker – and, as Midshipman again, in the Impetueux 74, flag-ship at Lisbon of Vice-Admiral Geo. Martin. We at length find him, on 15 Oct. 1312, officially promoted into the Revenge 74, bearing the flag off Cadiz and in the Mediterranean of Rear-Admirals Hon. Arthur Kaye Legge and Sir John Gore. Among the other boat services in which Mr. Ellis bore a part during his attachment to the latter ship, was the cutting out of a privateer from the Mole of Palamos. His last appointment appears to have been, 29 March, 1814, to the Milford 74, Capt. Westby Percival, then in the Adriatic. Since Aug. in the latter year, when the Milford [errata 1], having returned home, was paid off, Lieut. Ellis has not been afloat.
He was appointed, in Jan. 1846, Receiver of the Admiralty Droits at Southwold. He married, 17 May, 1827, Charlotte, fourth daughter of the late John Luxford, Esq. [errata 2], of Salisbury, by whom he has issue. Agents – Messrs. Stilwell.