A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Trist, Robert
TRIST. (Lieutenant, 1808.)
Robert Trist died in 1847.
This officer entered the Navy, in June, 1799, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the St. Albans 64, Capt. Fras. Pender, stationed on the coast of North America; where and in the North Sea he served from the following Oct. until Feb. 1803, in the Assistance and, as Midshipman, in the Waaksamheidt, both commanded by Capt. Hall. In Feb. 1804, he joined the Prince of Wales 98, bearing the flag of Sir Robt. Calder; under whom he took part, 21 July, 1805, in the action with the combined fleets of France and Spain off Cape Finisterre. In March, 1806, three months after he had left the Prince of Wales, he became Master’s Mate of the Insolent gun-brig, Lieut-Commander Morris; and in the following Dec. he joined, in a similar capacity, the Confiance 20, Capt. Jas. Lucas Yeo. On 13 Feb. 1808, in the evening, being off the Tagus, he was sent in command of the cutter and jollyboat, with 16 men, to row guard at the mouth of the river, in consequence of a report, current at Lisbon, that the Russian squadron was about to put to sea. No sooner had he arrived at this station than he perceived a French gun-vessel at an anchor under Fort San Pedro, between the forts of Belem and San Julien; he instantly, in a most gallant manner, boarded, and after an ineffectual resistance on the part of the enemy, carried the French gun-vessel Canonnier, commanded by Enseigne-de-Vaisseau Gaudolphe, and mounting 1 long 24-pounder and 2 brass sixes, with 100 stand of arms, and 50 men. Of these 3 were killed and 9 badly wounded; while the British however, although they had been hailed and fired at in their approach, escaped without loss. As a reward for his conduct Mr. Trist was nominated, 17 of the same month, Acting-Lieutenant of the Alfred 74.[1] He was promoted by the Admiralty 24 March following; and was afterwards, between June, 1808, and Dec. 1815, employed on the Home and West India stations in the Egeria sloop, Capt. Lewis Hole, La Fléche 14, Capt. Geo. Hewson, in a vessel the name of which has escaped us, and in the Southampton 32, Capt. Yeo, and Leveret sloop, Capt. Christian. He did not again go afloat.
- ↑ In forwarding to the Admiralty the details of the above gallant exploit, Sir Chas. Cotton, the Commander-in-Chief, says in his public letter,– “Mr. Trist having passed for a Lieutenant, and being strongly recommended by Capt. Yeo for his general good conduct, I have appointed him to act as Lieutenant on board H.M.S. Alfred (in the room of another absent in a prize), in order to mark my approbation of his conduct on this particular occasion, and which, I have no doubt, their Lordships will also duly appreciate, by promoting Mr. Trist to that rank he appears, in my opinion, justly to deserve.” – Vide Gaz. 1808, p. 417.