A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Skene, Alexander Motz
SKENE. (Lieut., 1820. f-p., 12; h-p., 27.)
Alexander Motz Skene entered the Navy, 9 Jan. 1808, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Guerrière 40, Capt. Alex. Skene, under whom he was for two years employed in that frigate and in the Hussar 38, on the West India, Halifax, and Home stations. He was present, in the Hussar, in the expedition to the Walcheren. After serving for nine months In the Implacable 74, Capt. Geo. Cockburn, in which ship he made a voyage to Vera Cruz and assisted at the defence of Cadiz, he returned home with the latter officer in the spring of 1811 in the Druid 32. In Jan. 1812 he entered the Royal Naval College; on leaving that institution in Sept. 1814 he became in succession attached to the Prince 98, Capt. Geo. Fowke, Iphigenia 42, Capt. Andrew King, Ruby 64, Capt. Andrew Fitzherbert Evans, and Albion and Northumberland 74’s, flag-ships of Sir Geo. Cockburn. In the Northumberland he escorted Napoleon Buonaparte to St. Helena. On his return he was received on board the Bulwark 74, bearing the flag of Sir Chas. Rowley in the river Medway; and he was next, from Sept. 1816 until promoted to his present rank, 26 Dec. 1820, employed in the Surly 10, Lieut.-Commander John Hill, Ramillies 74, flag-ship at Leith of Sir Wm. Johnstone Hope, Isabella hired sloop, Capt. John Ross, Bulwark again, Capt. Sam. Warren, and Griper brig, Lieut.-Commander Matthew Liddon. He has since been on half-pay. He left England, in 1818, in the Isabella, for the purpose of exploring Baffin Bay and of inquiring into the probability of a North-West Passage; and in the Griper he accompanied the present Sir Wm. Edw. Parry in 1819 on another voyage of discovery to the Polar regions. The expedition having on that occasion penetrated to long. 113° 54' 43", within the Arctic Circle, he became thereby entitled to a portion of a Parliamentary reward of 5000l. Agent – Fred. Dufaur.