A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Smith, Marmaduke
SMITH. (Lieut., 1808. f-p., 14; h-p., 34.)
Marmaduke Smith entered the Navy, in June, 1799, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Phoebe of 44 guns, Capt. Robt. Barlow, with whom he continued employed as Midshipman and Master’s Mate in the Triumph 74, on the Irish and Mediterranean stations until transferred, in Dec. 1804, to the Dryad 36, Capt. Adam Drummond. In the Phoebe he assisted at the capture, 19 Feb. 1801, of the Africaine of 44 guns and 715 men, including troops and artificers – a frigate whose resistance was protracted until, in the course of a desperate night-action of two hours, she had sustained (although the Phoebe, out of 239 men, had but 1 killed and 12 wounded) the terrific loss of at least 200 killed and 143 wounded – the greater part of them mortally. For his gallantry in achieving this exploit Capt. Barlow was rewarded with the honour of Knighthood. In the Dryad Mr. Smith was again stationed on the coast of Ireland, where he distinguished himself so much in boarding a French letter-of-marque that he received an order to act as Lieutenant, and was eventually, 27 Dec. 1808, confirmed in that rank. His next and last appointments were – 31 March, 1809, to the Nemesis 28, Capt. Wm. Ferris, employed for two years in the Baltic and North Sea and on the coast of Africa – and 10 April, 1812, and 27 Oct. 1813, to the Porcupine 24 and Surveillante 38, both commanded by Capt. Robt. Elliot, with whom he served on the coasts of Brazil, France, and Spain until May, 1814. While attached to the Nemesis he commanded the barge in conjunction with the other boats of that ship, and those of the Belvidera 36, at the spirited capture, on the coast of Norway, of two Danish gun-vessels, the Bolder and Thor (carrying 2 long 24’s, 6 6-pounder howitzers, and 45 men), and the destruction of a third, 23 July, 1810.[1] On another occasion, having taken a Danish privateer of 6 guns, he was sent in her with 25 men to attack a small convoy protected by several gun-boats, in face of whom he succeeded in making prize of a large merchant-vessel laden with copper. During the sojourn of the Nemesis on the coast of Africa, Mr. Smith, in the early part of 1811, was wounded at the cutting out by three of her boats of a 10-gun schooner from under the fire of the Dutch fort of St. Jago d’Elmina, on the coast of Guinea. In the Surveillante he was First-Lieutenant. Agents – Messrs. Chard.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1810, p. 1342.