A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Festing, Benjamin Morton
FESTING, K.H. (Commander, 1826. f-p., 21; h-p., 22.)
Benjamin Morton Festing, born in April, 1794, at Andover, co. Hants, is fifth son of the late Commander Henry Festing, R.N.; and brother of Rear-Admiral R. W. G. Festing, R.N., C.B.
This officer entered the Navy, 2 May, 1805, as Midshipman, on board the Prince 98, commanded by his uncle, Capt. Rich. Grindall, and, from the close of the same year, until the receipt of his first commission, 19 Feb. 1812, served, on the Mediterranean station, in the Queen 98, flag-ship of Lord Collingwood, Niger 32, Capt. Jas. Billyar, Ocean 98, bearing also the flag of the above nobleman, Kingfisher 18, Capt. Ewell Tritton, Fame 74, Capt. Abel Ferris, Thais 20, Capt. Isaac Ferrieres, and Christian VII. 80, and Caledonia 120, flag-ships of Sir Edw. Pellew. He then joined the Eagle 74, Capt. Chas. Rowley, and on 17 Sept. 1812, having succeeded Lieut. Augustus Cannon, who had been mortally wounded, in the command of the three barges of that ship, he creditably effected the capture and destruction, near Goro, on the coast of Italy, of two gun-boats, and of 21 out of an armed convoy of 23 sail, although the whole were covered by a 4-gun battery, and the beach was lined with armed people.[1] While in the same ship, Mr. Festing, besides taking part in many other boat affairs, served at the reduction of Fiume, in the batteries at the siege of Trieste, and at the capture of the principal towns and forts on the coasts of Istria and Dalmatia. He also, with a detachment of seamen under his orders, landed and for six weeks co-operated with the Austrians under Count Nugent, whose thanks he received for his conduct at the capture and subsequent defence of the town of Comacchio and Fort Magnavacca. From 29 Aug. 1814, until 23 May, 1816, we find him employed in the East Indies and China on board the Tyne 24, and Wellesley 74, both commanded by Capt. John Harper, and Owen Glendower 36, Capt. Brian Hodgson. His next appointments were – 14 April, 1819, to the Camelion 10, Capt. Wm. Jas. Mingaye, on the Home station – and, 17 Jan. 1823, to the Brazen 26, Capt. Geo. Wickens Willes, under whom, on the coast of Africa, he assisted at the capture of eight armed slavers and the liberation of 998 persons from bondage. He was promoted from the latter vessel to the rank of Commander 22 Dec. 1826, but remained on half-pay until appointed, 11 July, 1837, to an Inspectorship in the Coast Guard, in which service he continued for the usual period of three years. His last appointment was, 30 Oct. 1841, to the Apollo troop-ship. He was, however, obliged, in consequence of an attack of fever and ague, to invalid 15 Nov. following, since which period he has not been employed.
Commander Festing, who has obtained the acknowledgments of the Admiralty for plunging into the sea and saving the lives of persons who had fallen overboard, was nominated a K.H. for his services on the coast of Italy, 1 Jan. 1837. In 1823 he received a letter of thanks from the Secretary of State for the Home Department for a particular service done to the Crown at that time. He married, in July, 1827, the only daughter of T. B. Wright, Esq., of Hinton Blewett, co. Somerset, by whom he has issue three sons and three daughters. Agents – Messrs. Stilwell.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1813, p, 163.