A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Maxwell, Francis
MAXWELL. (Lieut., 1811. f-p., 1 5; h-p., 33.)
Francis Maxwell was born in Feb. 1789, at Bromyard, in Herefordshire.
This officer entered the Navy, in March, 1799, as Clerk, on board the Redbridge schooner, Lieut.-Commander Geo. Lempriere, in which vessel, stationed off Jersey, he continued employed until taken off Toulon by four French frigates, 4 Aug. 1803. In Sept. 1807, having succeeded after many hardships in effecting his escape from France, he was received as Midshipman on board the Escort gun-brig, Lieut.-Commander Wm. Smith (2), on the Mediterranean station; where he was subsequently, for nearly three years, employed in the Ocean 98 and Ville de Paris 110, flag-ships of Admirals Lord Collingwood and Thos. Fras. Fremantle. Being nominated, 12 Aug. 1811, Acting-Lieutenant of the Tuscan sloop, Capt. Geo. Matthew Jones, Mr. Maxwell, whose promotion was confirmed 26 Sept. following, served for some time in that vessel at the defence of Cadiz. In the following Dec. he removed to the Bustard 16, Capt. Chas. Burrough Strong; and in the course of the next few months, while in command of the boats in shore, he had the good fortune to capture several of the enemy’s vessels. On one occasion he landed and intercepted a quantity of flour intended for the fortress of Barcelona. He remained in the Bustard, part of the time as First-Lieutenant, until compelled by ill health to invalid, in Aug. 1812; and he was lastly, from 6 Aug. 1813 until June, 1814, employed on the Cork station in the Avon 18, Capt. Geo. Rose Sartorius. Sickness then again reduced him to the necessity of seeking half-pay. Agents – Messrs. Chard.