A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Shaw, Isaac
SHAW. (Commander, 1813. f-p., 19; h-p., 35.)
Isaac Shaw died in 1848.
This officer entered the Navy, in March, 1793, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Courageux 74, commanded by the late Lord Radstock and by Capts. John Matthews and Benj. Hallowell. After witnessing the occupation of Toulon, and assisting, as Midshipman, at the reduction of Corsica, he removed, in Oct. 1794, to the Romulus frigate, Capt. Geo. Hope, part of the force under Vice-Admiral Hotham in his action with the French fleet 14 March, 1795. From April, 1796, until June, 1798, he served under the flag of the officer first-mentioned, on the Lisbon, Home, and Newfoundland stations, in the Barfleur 98, Flora and Latona frigates, Romney 50, and Agincourt 64. In the Barfleur he fought in the action off Cape St. Vincent 14 Feb. 1797. On leaving the Agincourt he became Acting-Lieutenant of the Pluto sloop, Capts. Henry Folkes Edgell and Henry Barwell. In that vessel, to which he was confirmed 25 June, 1801, he continued employed, still on the Newfoundland station, until Feb. 1803. His succeeding appointments were – 2 Sept. 1803, to the Windsor Castle 98, Capts. Albemarle Bertie, Davidge Gould, and Thos. Wells, stationed off Brest – 29 Aug. 1804 (three months after ill health had compelled him to leave the Windsor Castle) to the Lady Melville hired ship, Capt. John Thicknesse, cruizing off the Start – 12 Nov. following, for two years, to the Neptune 98, Capts. Sir Thos. Williams and Thos. Francis Fremantle, in which ship he served off Ferrol and Brest, and at the battle of Trafalgar – and 30 March, 22 April, and 7 Sept. 1807, to the Hussar 38, Capt. Robt. Lloyd, Nemesis 28, Capt. Philip Somerville, and Volontaire 38, Capts. Chas. Bullen, Abel Ferris, Henry Evelyn Pitfield Sturt, Joseph Nourse, and Hon. Granville Geo. Waldegrave. In the latter frigate, in which he continued six years, Lieut. Shaw partook of much active service in the Mediterranean, and on many occasions distinguished himself. In the course of 1809 he assisted at the capture of the island of Pomégne, near Marseilles, and was reported in terms of high praise for his gallantry in command of the boats at the destruction, with a loss to the enemy of 5 killed and 8 wounded, and to the British of only 2 wounded, of Fort Rioux, near Cape Croisette, mounting 14 guns.[1] On 26 Dec. 1811 he brought out from the harbour of Palamos a well-protected privateer, La Décidé, mounting 2 long 6-pounders (pierced for 6), with a cargo of provisions, from Cette, bound to Barcelona.[2] He assisted next, 29 April, 1812, at the capture and destruction, by the boats of the Volontaire 38, Undaunted 38, and Blossom sloop, under Lieut. John Eagar, of 21, including a national schooner of 4 guns and 74 men, out of a convoy of 26 vessels, at anchor near the mouth of the Rhone. With the boats of his own ship under his orders, he captured, 23 June following, a felucca, La Colombe, of 1 long gun, 8 swivels, and 45 men[3] – an exploit which occasioned a loss to his own people of a Midshipman and 2 sailors wounded, and to the assailed of 3 killed and 7 wounded. In volunteered command of the boats of the Volontaire, Undaunted, and Redwing sloop, he succeeded, 31 March, 1813, in taking and destroying (the British had 1 man killed and 4 severely wounded – the French 4 killed, 5 wounded, and 17 taken prisoners) two strong batteries (mounting 5 36-pounders and 2 24’s) and 14 sail of vessels, at Morjean; and on 2 of the ensuing May he made prize, with the boats of the Volontaire, Undaunted, and Repulse 74, of a convoy lying in the same port. On that occasion, having landed at the head of a large body of seamen and marines, he drove the enemy to the heights in the rear, and there kept them in check until the vessels were secured, and the batteries, on which were found nine gun-carriages and a 13-inch mortar, blown up and completely destroyed. The enemy had 12 _ men killed, and several taken prisoners; and their opponents 2 killed and 4, including their gallant leader, wounded.[4] In reference to the achievement of 31 March, Capt. Waldegrave, in his letter to the Commander-in-Chief, observes : – “Lieut. Shaw’s character stands so high that his conduct on this occasion is only what it always has been; and such testimony as his to the gallantry of all his companions adds to their merit.”[5] He was promoted to the rank of Commander 9 Aug. 1813, but did not afterwards go afloat. On 22 Nov. 1811, the Volontaire, we should have stated, in company at the time with the Perlen 38, was chased, near Toulon, by three French ships-of-the-line and two frigates; but, after a running-fight which lasted several hours, contrived, with her consort, to escape.