A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Friend, Charles
FRIEND. (Lieut., 1812. f-p., 10; h-p., 32.)
Charles Friend, born 16 Sept. 1793, at Ramsgate, is brother of Lieut. M. C. Friend, R.N.
This officer entered the Navy, 2 Dec. 1805, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Camel store-ship, Capt. John Joyce, from which, after visiting Gibraltar and the Rio de la Plata, he was transferred, as Midshipman, in Nov. 1807, to the Grampus 50, Capt. Jas. Haldane Tait, then at the Cape of Good Hope. In the boats of the Active of 46 guns, Capt. Jas. Alex. Gordon, whom he joined, 22 July, 1809, Mr. Friend, on 29 June, 1810, contributed to the capture of a convoy in the harbour of Groa. He next, on 12 Feb. 1811, assisted in bringing out another from Ortona, although encountered by the most fearful obstacles; and, on 27 July in the same year, he was officially reported in the highest terms for his instrumentality, as Master’s Mate, in capturing and destroying 28 sail of merchantmen, defended, in a creek of the island of Ragosniza, by 3 gun-vessels and a body of 300 troops.[1] On 13 March, 1811, Mr. Friend was further present in the memorable action off Lissa, when a British squadron, carrying in the whole 156 guns and 879 men, completely routed, after a conflict of six hours, and a loss to the Active of 4 killed and 24 wounded, a Franco-Venetian armament, whose force amounted to 284 guns and 2655 men; and, on 29 Nov. ensuing, he shared in a hard-fought combat of an hour and a half, which, in rendering the Active captor of the Pomone, of 44 guns and 332 men, 50 of whom were killed and wounded, occasioned her a loss of 8 killed and 27 wounded, including Capt. Gordon, who lost a leg. As a reward for his conduct off Lissa, Mr. Friend, on his passing certificate reaching the Admiralty, was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant by commission dated 12 June, 1812; and, on 5 Oct. following, he was appointed to the Eclipse 18, Capt. Henry Lynne, in the West Indies. From 21 April until 9 Dec. 1815, he served on board the Hardy 14, Capt. Jas. Athill; but he has not, since the latter date, been afloat.
Lieut. Friend holds the appointment of Government Agent for Emigration at Cork. He married, 24 Sept. 1829, Eliza Malpas, eldest daughter of Geo. Weatherall, Esq., of Brompton, co. Kent. Agents – Goode and Lawrence.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1811, p.2193.