A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Leworthy, Henry
LEWORTHY. (Lieut., 1816. f-p., 35; h-p., 9.)
Henry Leworthy was born 23 Feb. 1793. This officer entered the Navy, 20 July, 1803, as Ordinary, on board the Grappler gun-brig, Lieut.-Commander Abel Wantner Thomas; and on 31 of the following Dec. was wrecked on the Iles de Chausey, near Granville; after sustaining a desperate engagement with an overwhelming force sent from which place to effect their capture, Mr. Leworthy and his companions were compelled to surrender and were taken prisoners to Verdun. In consideration of the distinguished bravery they had shown on the occasion, Napoleon Buonaparte in the course of a short time ordered the swords of all the officers to be restored to them, and that they should be allowed to wear them during the remainder of their captivity. After he had been for more than ten years in bondage, and had undergone inconceivable hardships in three thwarted attempts at escape, Mr. Leworthy at length, in the early part of 1814, succeeded in accomplishing a flight. He was then for upwards of two years employed on the American and Home stations in the Akbar 50, Capts. Jas. John Gordon Bremer and John Pasco; and on 14 Nov. 1816 he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. His appointments have since been – 21 Oct. 1825, to the Coast Blockade, as Supernumerary-Lieutenant of the Hyperion 42, Capt. Wm. Jas. Mingaye – 11 July, 1831, to the command of the Hawke Revenue-vessel – and 30 June, 1834, to the Coast Guard Service, in which he still continues. On 7 Dec. 1840, at the hazard of his life and of his boat’s crew, the Lieutenant rescued 8 persons from the French brig L’Espérance, which vessel was in fifteen minutes dashed to pieces against the rocks at the entrance of Salcombe Harbour. Agents – Goode and Lawrence.