A Naval Biographical Dictionary/MacKinnon, Lahchlan Bellingham
MACKINNON. (Lieutenant, 1842.)
Lahchlan Bellingham MacKinnon, born 21 April, 1815, is second son of Wm. Alex. Mackinnon, Esq., a Magistrate and Deputy-Lieutenant for cos. Middlesex, Hants, and Essex, M.P. for Lymington, and Chief of the Clan Mackinnon in the Western Highlands of Scotland, by Emma, daughter and sole heiress of Joseph Palmer, Esq., of Rush House, co. Dublin, and Palmerstown, co. Mayo. He is nephew of Col. Dan. Mackinnon, of the Coldstream Guards, and grand-nephew of Major-General Henry Mackinnon, of the same corps, who fell at Ciudad Rodrigo 19 Feb. 1812, and to whom a tablet has been erected by the country in St. Paul’s Cathedral.
This officer entered the Navy, 1 Oct., 1829, on board the Prince Regent 120, lying at Chatham, and was afterwards employed, as Midshipman and Mate, in the Columbine 18, Belvidera 42, Arrow 6, and Vanguard 80, on the West India, North and South American, and Mediterranean stations. When in the Belvidera in the West Indies, under Capt. Chas. Borough Strong, he was lent in 1834 for a period of 12 months to H.M. steam-vessel Flamer, and was the only person on board during that time who was not attacked by the yellow fever. In Nov. 1835, having made himself thoroughly acquainted with the theory of the steam-engine, he volunteered and took charge, in the capacity of engineer, of the Meteor steamer, which he conducted from the island of St. Thomas to English Harbour, Antigua, and thence to Carlisle Bay, Barbadoes – again escaping the ravages of the yellow fever, although most fatal in its effects to the officers and crew. Having passed his examination in Feb. 1836, he was promoted, 10 Feb. 1842, to the rank of Lieutenant. His appointments have since been – 17 March, 1842, for a few months, to the St. Vincent 120, flag-ship of Sir Edw. Codrington at Portsmouth – 22 Aug. 1844, as Additional-Lieutenant, to the Formidable 84, bearing the flag of Sir Edw. W. C. K. Owen in the Mediterranean – 17 Dec. 1844, to the Superb 80, Capt. Armar Lowry Corry, fitting at Devonport – 12 Nov. 1845, to the Alecto steam-sloop, Capt. Fras. Wm. Austen, stationed on the south-east coast of America – and, 1 Feb. 1847, to the Mastiff surveying-vessel, Capt. Alex. Bridport Becher, now employed in surveying the Orkneys. In June, 1846, during an action which took place between the combined squadrons of England and France and the formidable batteries erected by General Rosas on the heights of San Lorenzo, in the river Parana, Lieut. Mackinnon obtained the particular mention of Commodore Sir Chas. Hotham for the skill he exemplified in the command of a rocket-party, which had been obliged to remain two days and nights concealed under the enemy’s nose.[1]
He married, 9 Aug. 1842, Augusta, daughter of the late John Entwisle, Esq., of Foxholes, M.P. for Rochdale, by whom he has issue.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1816, p. 3355.