A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Henning, Alexander
HENNING. (Lieut., 181.5. f-p., 8; h-p., 31.)
Alexander Henning entered the Navy, 17 May, 1803, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Christian VII. 80, Capts. Sir Joseph Sydney Yorke, Woodley Losack, and Rich. Harward, of which ship, employed on the Home station, he became Midshipman 7 Aug. following. While in her he served for some time under the flag of Sir Edw. Pellew; and on two separate occasions, 20 Jan. and 13 Feb. 1810, he was employed in boat affairs of considerable gallantry; assisting, on the first, at the capture and destruction of part of a convoy of 30 sail, under a heavy fire of grape and musketry, and within a stone’s throw of the batteries, in the Maumusson passage; and, on the second, at the destruction, with a loss to the British of 2 men killed and 3 wounded, of three deeply-laden chasse-marées, which had grounded on a reef between Roohelle and Ile d’Aix, and were protected by nine French boats, each carrying a 12-pounder carronade and 6 swivels, and rowing from 20 to 30 oars. The British, who in the latter instance succeeded in capturing one and dispersing the rest of the boats, were in both cases commanded by Lieut. Gardmer Hen. Guion. From Sept. 1810 until May, 1814, Mr. Henning again, we find, served with Capt. Woodley Losack, chiefly as Master’s Mate, in the Galatea 42, on the Cape of Good Hope, Channel, and West India stations; during which period he shared, 20 May, 1811 (while cruizing off Madagascar, in company with the Astrea and Phoebe, frigates about equal in force to the Galatea, and 18-gun brig Racehorse), and was slightly wounded in the left arm, in a long and trying action with the French 40-gun frigates Rénommée, Clorinde, and Néréide, in which the Galatea, besides being cut to pieces in her hull, masts,and rigging, sustained a loss of 16 men killed and 46 wounded.[1] Between the date of his discharge from the Galatea and that of his promotion to the rank of Lieutenant, 11 Sept. 1815, Mr. Henning was lastly employed in the West Indies on board the Venerable 74, flag-ship of Rear-Admiral Philip Chas. Durham, and Spider sloop, Capt. Robt. Caulfeild.
He married, 11 Dec. 1838 (while in command of the Earl of Hardwicke Indiaman), Melina, only surviving daughter of the late E. W. Smith, Esq.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1811, p. 2191.