A Naval Biographical Dictionary/France, Nathaniel Cranstoun
FRANCE. (Lieut., 1814. f-p., 34; h-p., 15.)
Nathaniel Cranstoun France is son of Retired Commander Nathaniel Thos. France, R.N., who died in 1835; grandson of Nathaniel France, Esq., Surgeon R.N., a veteran who died in 1812; and great-grandson of the late Nathaniel France, Esq., Collector of the Customs at Waterford. This officer entered the Navy, 2 July, 1798, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Tigre 74, Capt. Sir Wm. Sidney Smith, under whom, in 1799, he assisted at the defence of St. Jean d’Acre. During the last two years of the French revolutionary war, he served in the Mediterranean on board the Alliance 20, Capt. John Melhuish; and while afterwards attached, from March, 1804, to Oct. 1809, to the Charger 12, Lieut.-Commander John Aitkin Blow, he saw much boat-service, and attended the expeditions to Copenhagen and the Walcheren. He then for 18 months officiated as Acting Sub-Lieutenant of the Bloodhound 10, Lieut.-Commander Thos. Warrand, and, after a further servitude of more than two years in the Aquilon 32, Capt. Wm. Bowles, was confirmed to a Lieutenancy, 26 Aug. 1814, in the Indefatigable 44, Capt. John Fyffe, which ship he left 26 June, 1816. Mi. France, who until lately held an appointment in the Coast Guard, has for 18 years been employed either in that service or in command of a Revenue-cruizer.
He married, in 1820, Ann, only daughter of John Vittery, Esq., a shipowner, by whom he has issue 11 children.