A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Le Hunte, Francis
LE HUNTE, K.F.M. (Commander, 1814. f-p., 11; h-p., 36.)
Francis Le Hunte entered the Royal Naval Academy 1 Nov. 1800, and, after a course of more than four years’ study at that institution, embarked, 18 April, 1805, as a Volunteer, on board the Nemesis 28, Capt. Phihp Somerville, stationed in the Channel, where, from Sept. 1806 to April, 1808, he cruized as Master’s Mate in the Narcissus 32, Capt. Chas. Malcolm. The next nine months were employed by this officer in the Pallas 32, Capt. Geo. Eras. Seymour, on the coast of Spain. In July, 1811, exactly two years after he had passed his. examination, he received, with the rank of Acting-Lieutenant, an appointment to the Sicilian flotilla at Messina. His confirmation took place 26 Sept. following; and on 15 Feb. 1813 we find him serving on shore in command of a party of seamen, and co-operating with the troops under Brigadier Hall, in an attack upon a strong body of the enemy, consisting of a complete battalion, with two troops of cavalry and two pieces of artillery, located at Pietra Nera, on the Calabrlan coast. On that occasion he stormed and carried, in a very gallant style, several obstinately defended batteries, and by his exemplary conduct attracted as well the admiration of the Brigadier as the observation both of soldiers and sailors.[1] He was afterwards sent with a division of gun-boats to guard the island of Ponza; and in March and April, 1814, being attached to the expedition against Genoa and its dependencies, he particularly distinguished himself by his gallant and able conduct at the reduction of the enemy’s forts in the Gulf of Spezia.[2] During the short war of 1815, Commander Le Hunte, who had been advanced to his present rank on 15 June in the preceding year, was selected to serve in the river Scheldt with a brigade of seamen under the orders of Capt. Chas. Napier. After the overthrow of Napoleon he assumed command, 20 June, 1815, of the Erebus 16, and retained it, in the Downs, until 4 Sept. following. He has since been on half-pay.
In consideration of the valour and intrepidity he had displayed at Pietra Nera, Commander Le Hunte was presented by the King of the Two Sicilies with the insignia of the Small Cross of the Order of St. Ferdinand and of Merit. Agent – Joseph Woodhead.