A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Wright, Philip
WRIGHT. (Retired Commander, 1840. f-p., 15; h-p., 37.)
Philip Wright entered the Navy, 20 Oct. or Nov. 1795, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board L’Espion 38, Capt. Manley Dixon; with whom, after cruizing in the North Sea, he removed, in Feb. 1797, to the Lion 64. On 15 July, 1798, we find him present in a brilliant action fought off Carthagena between the latter ship and four Spanish frigates of 42 guns each, which terminated in the surrender of one of the latter, the Santa Dorotea. In the course of the same year he was wounded while serving in a gunboat on the river Nile. In the early part of 1800 (he had previously attained the rating of Midshipman) he removed to the Généreux 74, a prize recently taken from the French, which he assisted, under Lord Cochrane, in navigating from Malta to Minorca under circumstances of great difficulty. Continuing attached to the Généreux under the command of Capt. Jahleel Brenton and of his former Captain, Dixon, he was afforded an opportunity of further witnessing the capture of La Diane of 42 guns, and the surrender of the island of Malta. He removed subsequently with Capt. Dixon to the Alexander 74; and in Nov. 1801 (he had been then serving for a short time with Lord Keith in the Foudroyant 80) he returned to England in the Egyptienne 41), Capt. Chas. Ogle. He joined next, in 1802-3, the Doris 36, Capt. Pearson, the Mars 74, Capt. John Sutton, and the Monarch 74, bearing the flag of Lord Keith, on the Home station; where, in May, 1805, he assumed command, with the rank of Acting-Lieutenant, of the Destruction mortar-boat. during the next 12 months he was actively employed, chiefly off Boulogne. He was nominated Sub-Lieutenant, 2 July, 1806, of the Wrangler, Lieut-Commander Pettet, lying at Sheerness; was made full Lieutenant, 9 Aug. following, into the Repulse 74, Capt. Hon. Arthur Kaye Legge; left that ship (in which he had accompanied Sir John Thos. Duckworth in the expedition to the Dardanells) in June, 1807; and from 6 Sept. 1810 untd 31 Oct. 1813 filled an appointment in the Impress service at Limerick. He was placed upon the list of Retired Commanders 16 Jan. 1840.