A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Morgan, Robert (b)
MORGAN. (Lieut., 1815. f-p., 12; h-p., 35.)
Robert Morgan (b) is third son of the late Thos. Morgan, Esq., Recorder of Clonekilty, co. Cork.
This officer entered the Navy, 15 Feb. 1800, as Ordinary (after seven years’ employment in the merchant-service, latterly in the capacity of Mate), on board the Inflexible 64, armée en flûte, Capt. Benj. Wm. Page, under whom he took part in the operations in Egypt in 1801. Returning to England in the early part of 1802, he next, in May, 1804, joined the Loire 38, Capt. Fred. Lewis Maitland; on leaving which ship in the following July he was received on board the Triton frigate, Capt. Wm. Cashman, off Waterford. In Aug. 1806 he became Master’s Mate of the Active 38, Capts. Rich. Hussey Moubray and Jas. Alex. Gordon; under the former of whom, in Feb. 1807, he accompanied Sir John Duckworth past the Dardanells, and on that occasion was so stunned by the explosion of a gun that the blood gushed out of both ears, and he ultimately lost all sense of hearing, although, from the accident not being properly reported, he was never able to procure compensation. While attached, from May, 1809, to April, 1811, to the Alfred 74, Capt. Joshua Rowley Watson, he witnessed the capture of Flushing and Guadeloupe, and was also present at the defence of Cadiz, where he commanded a gun-boat, and had every oar shot away while retreating from under a battery, without, fortunately, any of his crew being touched.[1] After further serving with Capt. Watson in the Implacable 74, with Admirals Sir Robt. Calder and Lord Keith in the Salvador del Mundo and Queen Charlotte (of which latter ship he officiated as Second-Master from 26 March, 1813, to 30 Aug. 1814), with Capts. J. Richards and Geo. McKinley in the Namur 74, and with Capt. Nathaniel Day Cochrane in the Orontes 36 on the Mediterranean and Home stations, he took up, in Nov. 1815, a commission bearing date 15 of the preceding March. He has since been on half-pay.
Lieut. Morgan married, first, in 1804 or 1805; and, again, in 1830. By his first wife he has living two sons (both of whom, educated at the Naval School at Greenwich, are now in the merchant-service) and one daughter.
- ↑ On resigning his command in the Cadiz flotilla, Mr. Morgan received from Commodore Hall, under whose orders he had been serving, a certificate couched in so peculiar and original a style that we cannot resist affording it insertion: –
“Mr. Morgan, it seems, having now bid adieu
To the gun-boat that lately was called ‘Twenty-two,’
And having determined to serve us no more,
A certificate wants from his old Commodore.
Now what can I say but he commanded her well,
And escaped twice or thrice from the verges of hell, –
That I wish him Success, tho’ he quits my pennant,
And hope from my heart he’ll be made Lieutenant?
His merits are great – to enumerate all
Would worry the patience of Commodore Hall;
But I trust that his services, merits, and feats,
Will merit the attention of Admiral Keats.”