A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Magin, Joseph
MAGIN. (Retired Commander, 1844. f-p., 13; h-p., 34.)
Joseph Magin, born about Christmas 1785, is brother of Wm. Magin, Esq. First-Lieutenant R.M. (1805), who fought in that capacity on board the Tonnant 80, at the battle of Trafalgar; and nephew of Dr. John Magin, Surgeon R.N., who served in the Monarch 74, flag-ship of Sir Rich. Onslow, in the action off Camperdown 11 Oct. 1797, and died Head Surgeon of the Royal Marine Infirmary at Stonehouse, Plymouth, in 1812.
This officer entered the Navy, 30 April, 1800, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Princess Royal 98, Capt. Thos. Macnamara Russell, of which ship, stationed in the Channel, his uncle was at the time Surgeon. In the course of 1801 he successively joined the Alkmaar, Capt. Rich. Poulden, and Blenheim 74, bearing the flag in the North Sea of Sir Archibald Dickson; and on becoming, in 1803, attached, as Midshipman, to the Seagull 18, Capt. Henry Burke, he took part in a running fight of 12 hours which terminated in the capture, although not without loss, of the Lord Nelson, East Indiaman. Removing, in Dec. 1804, to the Amphion 32, Capts. Sam. Sutton and Wm. Hoste, Mr. Magin was on board that frigate when, in Nov. 1805, she effected the defeat, notwithstanding that she was simultaneously opposed by the fire of an immense battery, of a division of about 30 Spanish gun-boats, which had come out of Algeciras in the hope of capturing a British convoy. On 25 Sept. 1806, a few months after he had passed his examination and been transferred to the Repulse 74, Capt. Hon. Arthur Kaye Legge, he witnessed the capture of Le Président French frigate; and in Feb. 1807 we find him present, in the same ship, at the passage of the Dardanells. On the occasion of the attack made upon the Turkish squadron at Point Pesquies, Mr. Magin volunteered and proceeded with two boats under the orders of Lieut. Kidd for the purpose of setting fire to the Admiral’s ship. During the stay of the party between decks, the boats, owing to the blaze which had speedily resulted from their exertions, were under the necessity of putting off; in consequence whereof, the Lieutenant and his companions were compelled to jump overboard, and were picked up when the ship exploded. On his arrival home Mr. Magin, in consideration of a wound he had received in the operations, was presented by the Patriotic Society with a gratuity of 30l. He was promoted (while serving in the Atlas 74, flag-ship of Rear-Admiral John Child Purvis, off Cadiz) to a Lieutenancy, 4 Jan. 1808, in the Gazi Musrett 36, Capt. Geo. M. Honey, one of the prizes recently taken at Alexandria. His succeeding appointments were – 6 Oct. 1808, as Senior, to the Apelles sloop, Capt.;Thos. Oliver, under whom he accompanied the expedition to the Walcheren, and commanded the boats at the cutting-out of a vessel from under a very severe fire of the enemy’s batteries at Etaples – 13 Jan. 1810, to the Scipion 74, flag-ship of Hon. Robt. Stopford, in which he co-operated in the reduction of Java – and, 24 Nov. 1812, again as First-Lieutenant (after six months of half-pay) to the Griffon sloop, Capt. Geo. Barne Trollope, stationed in the Downs, where he cruized until Dec. 1813. He accepted his present rank 13 Sept. 1844.
Commander Magin married, 6 April, 1815, Elizabeth, daughter of Rich. Magin, Esq., of Greenhill House, co. Down, by whom he has issue five children. Agent – J. Hinxman.