A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Le Vesconte, Henry Thomas Dundas
LE VESCONTE. (Lieutenant, 1841.)
Henry Thomas Dundas Le Vesconte entered the Navy 19 May, 1829; passed his examination in 1836; and, joining (as Mate of the Calliope) in the China war, assisted at the destruction of a 20-gun battery at the back of the island of Anunghoy, 23 Feb. 1841[1] – served in the boats, on 13 March, at the capture of several rafts and of the last fort protecting the approaches to Canton[2] – was similarly employed at the capture of that city on 18 of the same month[3] – and, during the second series of hostilities against it, was afresh engaged in the boats at the destruction, 26 May, of the whole line of defences, extending about two miles from the British factory. In consequence of these performances he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant by commission dated 8 June, 1841.[4] His appointments have since been – 16 Oct. following, to the Hyacinth 18, Capt. Geo. Goldsmith, in the East Indies – 15 June, 1842, to the Clio 16, Capts. Edw. Norwich Troubridge and Jas. Fitzjames, under whom he was for upwards of two years employed on the same station and off the coast of Africa – 17 Dec. 1844, as Senior, to the Superb 74, Capt. Armar Lowry Corry, attached to the Channel squadron – and, 4 March, 1845, to the Erebus discovery-ship, Capt. Sir John Franklin, in which he is at present concerned in a renewed attempt to explore the North-west Passage through Lancaster Sound and Bering Strait. Agents – Messrs. Stilwell.