A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Festing, Colson
FESTING. (Commander, 1838. f-p., 24; h-p., 16.)
Colson Festing is sixth son of the late Commander Henry Festing, R.N.; and brother of RearAdmiral K. W. G. Festing, R.N., C.B.
This officer entered the Navy, 16 Sept. 1807, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Volontaire 38, Capt. Chas. Bullen, with whom he continued to serve, latterly as Midshipman of the Cambrian 40, until Dec. 1811; during which period he assisted at the capture of the island of Pomégue, near Marseilles, and the destruction of Fort Rioux, mounting 14 guns, near Cape Croisette, in 1809, besides actively co-operating for many months with the patriots on the coast of Catalonia, Where, on 12 and 14 April, 1811, he witnessed the capture of the towns of St. Philon and Palamos. Removing, next, to the Caledonia 120, flag-ship of Sir Edw. Pellew, he shared in a partial action with the French fleet off Toulon, 5 Nov. 1813; after which he joined the Alcmene 38, Capt. Jeremiah Coghlan, Under whom, independently of the capture of La Flèche national schooner, of 12 guns, he was in warm action, 11 April, 1814, with the batteries of Porto Maurizio. On the paying off of the Caledonia, which ship he had rejoined, Mr. Festing, in Sept. 1814, became Admiralty Midshipman of the Rhin 38, Capt. Chas. Malcolm. After a further servitude, as Master’s Mate, in the Pilot 18, Capt. John Toup Nicolas, and Boyne 98, flag-ship of Lord Exmouth, he obtained a commission dated 10 March, 1815, and was employed pro tem., towards the close of the same year, in the Partridge 16, Capt. John Miller Adye. His subsequent appointments as Lieutenant, we find, were, chiefly as First Lieutenant – 7 Dec. 1820, to the Seringapatam 46, Capt. Sam. Warren, on particular service – 3 Aug. 1825, to the Fly 18, Capts. Fred. Augustus Wetherall and Follett Walrond Pennell, on the East India station – 26 Nov. 1830, to the Belvidera 42, Capt. Hon. Rich. Saunders Dundas, in the Mediterranean – and, 4 March, and 27 Aug. 1834, to the President 52, and Vernon 50, both commanded, on the North American, West India, and Mediterranean stations, by Capt. John M‘Kerlie. Attaining the rank of Commander 15 Jan. 1838, he next joined – on 30 of the same month, the Hercules 72, in which ship he served for nearly two years under Capts. J. T. Nicolas and Edw. Barnard – and 11 May, 1841, the Dublin 50, flag-ship of Rear-Admiral Rich. Thomas, in South America. Since the autumn of 1842 he has been on half-pay.
Commander Festing is at the top of the list of Commanders of 1838. He married, 13 Dec. 1842, Margaret, second daughter of the late Rev. Geo. Marwood, of Busby Hall, co. York. Agents – Messrs. Stilwell.