A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Gwynne, Lawrence
GWYNNE, LL.D. (Retired Commander, 1836. h-p., 8; h-p., 50.)
Lawrence Gwynne entered the Navy, in Oct. 1789, as Admiral’s Servant, on board the Trusty 50, Capt. John Drew, bearing the flag of Sir John Laforey in the West Indies, where he served, latterly as Midshipman, for nearly four years. In Aug. 1793 he became attached to the Carysfort 28, Capt. Francis Laforey, stationed in the North Sea and Baltic; and, on removing to the Ramillies 74, Capts. Henry Harvey and Sir Rich. Bickerton, of which ship he successively officiated as Schoolmaster and Master’s Mate, he fought in Lord Howe’s action, 1 June, 1794. Returning subsequently to the West Indies, he there rejoined Sir John Laforey on board the Majestic 74; from which ship, on 30 Oct. 1795, he was promoted to a Lieutenancy in L’Aimable 32, Capts. Chas. Sydney Davers and Jemmet Mainwaring. While serving with the last-mentioned officer, we find him, on 23 July, 1796, taking part in a very warm and gallant action with the French 36-gun frigate La Pensée, whose loss on the occasion is stated to have amounted to 90 men killed and wounded, while that of the British ship did not exceed 2 wounded. Mr. Gwynne’s last appointment was to the Marlborough 74, Capts. Henry Nicholls and Joseph Ellison, with whom he served in the Channel and off Brest from Feb. to Sept. 1797. He became a Retired Commander on the Junior List 26 Nov. 1830; and on the Senior 7 March, 1836.
This officer, a member, we understand, of the English Bar, was lately Mathematical Master at Christ Church. He married Miss Strangways.