A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Vincent, Andrew Atkins
VINCENT, K.H. (Captain, 1832. f-p., 18; h-p., 33.)
Andrew Atkins Vincent entered the Navy, in March, 1796, as a Volunteer, on board the Victorious 74, Capt. Wm. Clark, stationed in the East Indies, whence, at the peace, he returned to England as Master’s Mate (he had already attained the rating of Midshipman) in the Suffolk 74, Capt. Sir Roger Curtis. If we mistake not, he was present in the action with M. Sercey, alluded to in our memoir of Commander Abel Wantner Thomas. After serving for two years and nine months on the Home station and off Cadiz in the Magnificent 74, Capt. Wm. Henry Jervis, Tonnant 80, Capt. Justice Finley (acting), Puissant 74, Capt. John Irwin, and Unité frigate, Capt. Chas. Ogle, he took up, in March, 1806, a commission bearing date 22 Jan. in that year. His succeeding appointments were – 15 July, 1806, to the Laurel of 22 long 9-pounders on her main deck, with 6 18-pounder carronades and 2 long sixes on the quarter-deck and forecastle, Capt. John Chas. Woollcombe, employed off the Cape de Verde Islands and on the Cape of Good Hope station – in March, 1809, for a passage home, to the Grampus 50, Capt. Jas. Haldane Tait – 6 Jan. 1810, to the Owen Glendower 36, Capts. Wm. Selby and Edw. Henry A’Court, in which frigate he cruized in the Channel, and visited Quebec, the Cape of Good Hope, and St. Helena – 10 Aug. 1811, after three months of half-pay, to the Norge 74, Capt. John Sprat Rainier, off Flushing – 2 Oct. 1812, to the Belle Poule 38, Capt. Geo. Harris – 20 June, 1815, to the Cornwallis 74, as Flag-Lieutenant to Sir Geo. Burlton, Commander-in-Chief in the East Indies – and, 5 Oct. and 28 Nov. following, as a Supernumerary, to the Doris 36 and Minden 74, Capts. John Harper and Hon. Donald Hugh Mackay, with the latter of whom he returned to England. He was on board the Laurel, we believe, in Aug. 1808, when that ship, with only 145 men, was captured off the Isle of France by the French frigate Cannonière of 48 guns and, including troops, full 420 men, after a close and gallant action of nearly an hour and a half, in which the British had but 9 wounded, and the enemy at least 5 killed and 19 wounded. In the Hussar, besides assisting at the capture, 3 April and 11 May, 1813, of Le Grand Napoléon American schooner of 4 guns (pierced for 22) and 32 men, and Revenge letter-of-marque of 4 guns (pierced for 16) and 32 men, he was present, in the spring of 1814, at the forcing of the entrance into the Gironde. He attained the rank of Commander 6 Feb. 1816; was employed on particular service, as Second Captain of the Talavera 74, Capt. David Colby, from 18 March until Sept. 1831; and was advanced to the rank he now holds 9 May, 1832. He has since been on half-pay.
Capt. Vincent was nominated a K.H. 26 April, 1831. He is at present Gentleman Usher to the Queen Dowager and Captain of Sandown Castle. During the war he was twice wounded. Agents – Messrs. Stilwell.