A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Wells, Andrew
WELLS. (Retired Commander, 1834. f-p., 18; h-p., 34.)
Andrew Wells was born 17 April, 1774, in Aberdeenshire.
This officer entered the Navy, 16 Nov. 1795, as A.B., on board the Carnatic 74, Capt. Rich. Grindall, lying at Plymouth. Removing with Capt. Grindall, in Feb. 1796, to the Colossus 74, commanded next by Capt. Geo. Murray, he fought in that ship in the action off Cape St. Vincent 14 Feb. 1797, and served in her boats, in the course of the same year, in several attacks upon the Cadiz flotilla. The Colossus being wrecked, 10 Dec. 1798, on a ledge of rocks in St. Mary’s Road, Scilly, Mr. Wells, who had already attained the rating of Midshipman, rejoined Capt. Murray shortly afterwards on board the Achille 74. In that ship, and in the Edgar 74 (part of the fleet engaged under Lord Nelson at the battle of Copenhagen 2 April, 1801) and the London 98, he continued employed with the same Captain on the Channel and Baltic stations, latterly in the capacity of Master’s Mate, until promoted to the rank of Lieutenant 29 April, 1802. He was subsequently appointed, in succession – 11 May, 1802, to the Gannet 16, Capts. Burrowes, Bass, Stevenson, and Bateman, in which vessel he cruized in the Channel, united in Admiral Gambier’s attack upon Copenhagen in 1807, and went with convoy to the Mediterranean – 30 May, 1808, to the Vesuvius bomb, Capt. Cunningham, stationed in the Baltic – 8 Feb. 1809, to the Naijaden 36, Capt. Cottrell, employed in the North Sea and West Indies – and, 4 May, 1812, to the Nymphe 38, Capt. Farmery Predam Epworth, on the coast of North America, whence he invalided 19 Oct. 1813. In 1809 he commanded the boats of the Naijaden at the capture of a Russian fort on the coast of Lapland, and of several vessels reposing under its protection.[1] He accepted his present rank 25 March, 1834; and was admitted to the Out-Pension of Greenwich Hospital 26 Oct. 1848. Agents – Messrs. Stilwell.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1809, p. 1346.