A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Laston, Samuel Hornigold
LASTON. (Lieut., 1815. f-p., 25; h-p., 16.)
Samuel Hornigold Laston entered the Navy, in Sept. 1806, as Midshipman, on board the Spartan 38, Capts. Geo. Castle and Jahleel Brenton. Continuing in that ship until April, 1809, he served in her boats at the cutting out of a vessel under the batteries of Civita Vecchia, participated in an attempt made to cut off a convoy under the batteries of Leghorn, and was present in an attack upon a disguised armed polacre off Nice, on which occasion he brought off the barge and pinnace with only three men, and received a severe contusion. On leaving the Spartan Mr. Laston became Master’s Mate of the Bustard 10, Capts. John Duff Markland, Chas. Borough Strong, and Lord John Hay, with whom, it appears, he was for a period of six years employed on the Mediterranean, West India, and Lisbon stations. While so attached he assisted, as Acting-Lieutenant, at the capture and destruction of some gun-boats under the Castle of Duino, cooperated in the defence of Sicily, and was often engaged with enemy’s gun-vessels in the Faro of Messina. His official advancement to the rank he now holds took place 15 Feb. 1815. He shortly afterwards joined the Bombay 74, flag-ship in the Mediterranean of Sir Chas. Vinicombe Penrose; and in the following year, we are informed, he was present at the bombardment of Algiers. His last appointments were- – in 1824 and 1830, as a Supernumerary, to the Ramillies and Talavera, Coast Blockade ships, Capts. Wm. M‘Culloch and Hugh Pigot – and, 18 April, 1831, to the Coast Guard, in which he remained until the close of 1839. Agents – Coplands and Burnett.