A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Jefferson, Francis
JEFFERSON. (Lieut., 1807. f-p., 15; h-p., 33.)
Francis Jefferson entered the Navy, in Sept. 1799, as Midshipman, on board the Director 64, Capt. Wm. Bligh; and in Aug. 1800, on his return from a voyage to St. Helena, joined the Greyhound 32, Capts. Chas. Ogle, Alex. Campbell, and Wm. Hoste, stationed in the Mediterranean; where, after attending the expedition of 1801 to Egypt, he removed, as Midshipman, in Oct. 1802, to the Monmouth 64, Capt. Geo. Hart. From May, 1804, until his, return to England in Oct. 1806, we find him serving in the West Indies, chiefly as Master’s Mate, Sub-Lieutenant, and Acting-Lieutenant, on board the Beaulieu 44, Capt. Chas. Ekins, Netley schooner, Lieut.-Commander Wm. Carr, and Dolphin 44, Capts. Thos. Tudor Tucker and Daniel Tandy. He then joined, in the capacity last mentioned, the Weymouth 18, Capt. Martin White, of which vessel, successively stationed at Woolwich and Plymouth, he was confirmed a Lieutenant by oommission dated 12 June, 1807. After he had been employed for a further period of two years on the Home station in the Dreadnought 98, Capts. Wm. Lechmere and Geo. Burgoyne Salt, flag-ship for some time of Rear-Admiral Thos. Sotheby, he was appointed, in April, 1803, First of the Cadmus 10, Capts. E. Wynter, J. Williams, and Thos. Fife. When at Vigo, in June of the same year, Lieut. Jefferson volunteered to take command of a gunboat, and, in unison with three others, manned by Spaniards, to attack two batteries which the French had lately erected in the vicinity.[1] A short time, however, after the commencement of the operations the Spaniards were observed retreating from the conflict, in consequence whereof the British were under the necessity of firing ball-cartridges over their heads, and of thus compelling them to return to their duty. Nothing, on the other hand, could exceed the valour and good conduct of the men under the command of Lieut. Jefferson, who, after they had expended all their cartridges, cut up their jackets, shirts, and stockings, for the purpose of making bags for the loose powder, and, when they victoriously rejoined their ship, were almost in a state of nudity. Struck with admiration at their conduct, the Cadmus had telegraphed to the Lively frigate, Commodore Geo. M‘Kinley, then within signal-distance, the words – “our boat doing gloriously.” Besides receiving a strong letter of approbation from the latter officer, Mr. Jefferson had the satisfaction of being mentioned in Lord Gambier’s despatches as deserving his highest praise. Previously to the above affair he had volunteered to go in-shore with the boats at Corunna, and had brought off a brig from under the batteries. On 24 Dec. 1809 he effected the similar capture, with but one boat under his orders, of two of the enemy’s vessels in Quiberon Bay – an exploit which obtained him a letter of thanks from the Commander-in-Chief, Rear-Admiral Hon. Robt. Stopford. On 4 Jan. 1810 he further took two vessels off the river Renerve; as, on 17 of the same month, he did three others in the Valeine. Illness at length, induced by severe duty and continual night-service in the boats, obliged him to invalid in Aug. 1810; from which period he remained on half-pay until appointed, 24 Nov. 1825, to the office of Agent for Transports Afloat. In April, 1830, on the night previous to his leaving the ship in which he had been employed as Agent, he hastened on shore, with the whole of his crew, in consequence of the danger which existed of the dockyard at Deptford being set on fire, and removed everything of a combustible nature from the threatened side. For this service he received the thanks of the Navy Board. He has had the command, since 1836, of Her Majesty’s yachts on the Virginia Water, at Windsor.
Lieut. Jefferson married in 1812, and has issue six children.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1809, p. 1006.