A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Kelly, Richard Nugent
KELLY. (Lieutenant, 1812. f-p., 28; h-p., 15.)
Richard Nugent Kelly entered the Navy, 14 Jan. 1804, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Inconstant 36, Capt. Edw. Stirling Dickson, successively employed, until April, 1808, on the African, Jamaica, and Home stations – for some time under the flag of Sir Jas. Saumarez. During the earlier portion of his attachment to that frigate he witnessed the surrender of the island of Gorée, and was on one occasion taken prisoner by the Fantees, an African tribe, after a contest in which the whole of his party had been killed. In April, 1808, he became Midshipman of the Barfleur 98, Successive flag-ship of Rear-Admirals Wm. Albany Otway, Chas. Tyler, and Sir Sam. Hood, on the Lisbon station, whence, after serving in the Triumph 74, Capt. Sam. Hood Linzee, he returned home, in Jan. 1810, on board the Renown 74, Capt. Philip Chas. Durham, for the purpose of passing his examination. Between the following Sept. and the date of his promotion to the rank of Lieutenant, 21 March, 1812, we again find him serving on the Lisbon station, as also in the Baltic and at Spithead, in the Dreadnought 98, Capt. S. H. Linzee, Barfleur, flag-ship of Son. Geo. Cranfield Berkeley, Dreadnought, commanded as before, and Victory 100, Capt. Philip Dumaresq. His appointments have since been – in March and May, 1813, to the Union 98, Capts. S. H. Linzee, Wm. Kent, and Robt. Rolles, and San Juan 74, flag-ship of Rear-Admiral S. H. Linzee, both on the Mediterranean station – 20 Sept. 1813, to the office of Acting Resident-Agent for Transports and Prisoners of War at Gibraltar, where he remained until Feb. 1814 – 20 July, 1837, to the Coast Blockade, in which service he was employed as a Supernumerary-Lieutenant of the Ramillies and Talavera 74’s, both commanded by Capt. Hugh Pigot, until Nov. 1830 – and, 10 June, 1831, to a station in the Coast Guard, the command whereof. With the exception of about two years in 1838-40, he has ever since retained. Agent – Fred. Dufaur.