A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Ramsey, Samuel
RAMSEY. (Commander, 1828. f-p., 14; h-p., 30.)
Samuel Ramsey entered the Navy, 17 Oct. 1803, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Raisonnable 64, Capts. Wm. Hotham, Robt. Barton, and Josias Rowley. In that ship he was at first stationed off the Texel; he afterwards served in her as Midshipman in Sir Robt. Calder’s action, at the reduction of the Cape of Good Hope, and at the taking of Buenos Ayres. On the recapture of the latter place, in Aug. 1806, he fell into the hands of the enemy;[1] and he remained a prisoner of war until the evacuation of Spanish America in Sept. 1807. He was then received on board the Africa 64, Capt. Henry Wm. Bayntun, lying in the Rio de la Plata, and in Jan. 1808 he rejoined the Raisonnable, still commanded by Capt. Rowley; with whom, after having served on shore at the reduction of St. Paul’s, in the Ile de Bourbon, he removed to the Boadicea 38. He was in consequence present at the taking of the Ile de Bourbon itself; at the recapture of the Africaine 38; and at the surrender, after a spirited action of 10 minutes, and a loss to the Boadicea of 2 men wounded, and to the enemy of 9 killed and 15 wounded, of La Vénus of 44 guns and 380 men, bearing the broad pendant of Commodore Hamelin, and of her prize the Ceylon 32. Being nominated, 9 Oct. 1810, Acting-Lieutenant of the vessel last named, commanded in succession by Capts. Tomkinson and Paterson, Mr. Ramsey, in the following Dec, contributed to the capture of the Isle of France. He was confirmed a Lieutenant 11 July, 1811; and subsequently appointed – 21 Nov. in the same year, to the Tigre 74, Capt. John Halliday, attached to the Channel fleet – 24 Jan. 1814, to the Carron 20, Capts. Hon. Robt. Cavendish Spencer, Jas. Barnwall Tattnall, and Nich. Lechmere Pateshall, in which vessel (he continued in her until Aug. 1816) he witnessed an attack made upon Fort Bowyer, Mobile, 15 Sept. 1814, and took part in the operations connected with the expedition against New Orleans – and 10 Sept. 1825, as First, to the Doterel 18, Capt. Henry Edwards, fitting for the Halifax station, where he remained about 12 months. He attained his present rank 22 Aug. 1828; and from 30 March, 1840, until the spring of 1845, filled the appointment of Inspecting-Commander in the Coast Guard.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1807, p. 113.