A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Lauzun, Francis Daniel
LAUZUN. (Lieut., 1811. f-p., 14; h-p., 33.)
Francis Daniel Lauzun entered the Navy, 14 Oct. 1800, as Midshipman, on board the Prince 98, commanded by the Earl of Northesk, with whom he served in the Channel until April, 1802. In June, 1803, after he had been for nearly five months employed on the Guernsey station in the Alcmène 32, Capt. John Stiles, he rejoined the same nobleman on board the Britannia, and for his subsequent conduct as one of his Aides-de-Camp at the battle of Trafalgar he had the satisfaction of receiving his Lordship’s thanks. On the last-mentioned ship being paid off in June, 1806, Mr. Lauzun Joined the Lavinia 40, Capts. Lord Wm. Stuart and John Hancock, under whose orders he remained until Nov. 1808. During that period, it appears, he was much employed with the in-shore squadrons off Brest and Toulon, saw a good deal of arduous boat-service on the shores of France, Spain, and Italy, and was twice taken prisoner in a prize, the first time by a Spanish privateer, and the second by a national brig. Removing next to the Norge 74, Capt. John Sprat Rainier, Mr. Lauzun in Jan. 1809 proceeded to Corunna for the purpose of assisting at the embarkation of the army under the late Sir John Moore. While there, the pinnace, of which our officer had the charge, was sunk by a gun-shot at a moment when she was crowded with soldiers, women, and baggage. Luckily, owing to his presence of mind, and to the manner in which he preserved his authority in the midst of so much peril, not a soul was lost, the whole being rendered able to get on board a neighbouring frigate, the Unicorn 32. A full share of credit was of course awarded to Mr. Lauzun for his conduct under such very trying circumstances. In the following year we find him employed on shore at Ferrol, and receiving in common with others the thanks of the Regency for his exertions in equipping several Spanish men-of-war lying there dismantled, and in also removing the naval stores to prevent their falling into the hands of the French. In April, 1810, being then at Lisbon, he was nominated Acting-Lieutenant of the Ulysses 44, Capt. Henry Edw. Reginald Baker, flag-ship afterwards of the Due de Bouillon off Guernsey. Owing to some informality in the appointment, the Admiralty, although requested by the latter officer, refused to confirm it, and in Nov. of the same year Mr. Lauzun was accordingly superseded. He was however made Lieutenant, 2 Feb. 1811, into the Diadem armée en flûte, Capt. John Phillimore, and was afterwards appointed – 19 Sept. 1811, again to the Ulysses, at first employed as before, but afterwards commanded, in the Baltic, by Capt. Thos. Browne – and, 15 Jan. 1814, to the Dannemark 74, Capt. H. E. R. Baker, which ship, after having escorted an East India convoy to the Cape of Good Hope, returned home and was paid off 29 April, 1815. He has not been since afloat.