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A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Otty, Allen

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1860575A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Otty, AllenWilliam Richard O'Byrne

OTTY. (Commander, 1815. f-p., 14; h-p., 30.)

Allen Otty entered the Navy, 15 Aug. 1803, as A.B., on board the Helder, guard-ship in the river Humber, Capts. Edw. Hawkins and Benj. Walker. From April, 1806, until promoted to the rank of Lieutenant 14 April, 1810, he served, chiefly in the capacity of Master’s Mate (a rating he had attained 9 May, 1805), in the San Josef and Ville de Paris of 110 guns, Caledonia 120, and Barfleur 98, flag-ships on the Channel and Lisbon stations of Sir Chas. Cotton, Lords Gardner and Gambier, and Hon. Geo. Cranfield Berkeley. His succeeding appointments were to the Impétueux 74, Capt. John Lawford, Phipps gun-brig, Capt. Christopher Bell, and Goshawk sloop, Capts. Jas. Lilburn, Thos. Ball Clowes, and Hon. Wm. John Napier; to the gun-boat service on the river St. Lawrence; and to the Confiance 18 and Minstrel 20, both commanded by Capt. Peter Fisher. On the night of 29 April, 1812, we find him serving with the boats of the Goshawk and of a squadron under the orders of Capt. Thos. Ussher, and acquiring the greatest praise for his Undaunted courage, in a brilliant attack on the enemy’s privateers and batteries in the Mole of Malaga, an enterprise which, although partially successful, terminated in a loss to the British, out of 149 officers and men, of 15 (including Capt. Lilburn) killed and 53 wounded. After having acted for a period as Commander of the Star sloop in North America, Mr. Otty was confirmed in his present rank by a commission bearing date 1 July, 1815. During the two following years he appears to have had command of the Montreal and Charwell on the lakes of Canada. He has since been on half-pay.