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A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Price, Francis Swaine

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1885631A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Price, Francis SwaineWilliam Richard O'Byrne

PRICE. (Retired Commander, 1839. f-p., 14; h-p., 40.)

Francis Swaine Price was born 5 July, 1785. This officer entered the Navy, in Feb. 1793, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Childers sloop, Capt. Robt. Barlow, stationed in the Channel. In Jan. 1795 he removed to the Magnanime of 48 guns, Capts. Schomberg and Hon. Michael de Courcy, employed on the coast of Ireland; and he next, from July, 1797, to June, 1802, served in the Channel and among the Western Islands in the Boadicea 38, Capts. Rich. Goodwin Keats and Chas. Rowley. During that period he was twice wounded – once in an attack made by Rear-Admiral Chas. Morice Pole on a Spanish squadron in Aix Roads, 2 July, 1799, and again at the cutting out of a Spanish packet and gun-boat from the harbour of Corunna. In Sept. 1802 and Nov. 1803 we find him successively joining the Aggressor gun-brig, Lieut.-Commanders Thos. Thompson and Geo. Hayes, and, as Master’s Mate, the Téméraire 98, Capt. Elias Harvey, under whom he was again wounded in the action off Cape Trafalgar 21 Oct. 1805. In consideration of his sufferings he was voted by the Patriotic Society the sum of 30l He obtained his commission 30 Jan. 1806, and from the following May until July, 1807, was employed in the Channel and North Sea on board the Namur 74, Capt. Lawrence Wm. Halsted. The latter was his last appointment. He accepted his present rank 6 April, 1839.