A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Yates, Richard Augustus
YATES. (Captain, 1827. f-p., 13;[1] h-p., 31.)
Richard Augustus Yates entered the Navy, 16 March, 1803, as Midshipman, on board the Ardent 64, Capt. Robt. Winthrop; and on 28 Nov. following was present at the destruction, in Finisterre Bay, of La Bayonnaise French frigate of 32 guns and 200 men. After cruizing in the North Sea and off Boulogne he removed, in April, 1805, to the Revenge 74, Capt. Robt. Moorsom, fitting at Chatham; and from the following July until Dec. 1808 he was again employed with Capt. Winthrop and with Capt. Clotworthy Upton, in the Sybille 38, in the Bay of Biscay, among the Western Islands, on the coast of Ireland, and in the Baltic. While on the station last named he co-operated, in Sept. 1807, in the reduction of Copenhagen. On leaving the Sybille he was received on board the Cherokee 10, Capt. Rich. Arthur, attached to the force on the coast of France. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant 16 May, 1809; and was subsequently appointed – 8 July, 1809, to the Audacious 74, Capt. Donald Campbell, whom he accompanied in the expedition to the Walcheren – 26 Jan. 1810, to the Quebec 32, Capts. Hon. Geo. Poulett and Chas. Sibthorpe John Hawtayne, employed off the Texel and the coast of Jutland – 16 April, 1811, after four months of half-pay, to the Niemen 38, Capts. Sir Michael Seymour and Sam. Pym, in the Bay of Biscay – 30 Oct. 1812, to the Barrosa 36, Capt. Wm. Henry Shirreff, on the West India and North American stations – and, 1 July, 1814,[2] to the acting-command of the Amaranthe 18. On the night of 8 Nov. 1810, Mr. Yates, then in the Quebec, served with three boats belonging to that frigate, under the orders of Lieut. Stephen Popham, and was mentioned in the highest terms for the spirit and good order he maintained, at the capture, in the Vlie Stroom, of La Jeune Louise French privateer schooner of 14 guns (6 12 and 8 9 pounders) and 35 men. The boats on this occasion had to pull against a very strong tide and found the enemy fully prepared for the attack and closely surrounded by sands, on which, in their approach, they grounded and received three distinct broadsides from cannon and musketry within pistol-shot. Extricating themselves, nevertheless, they boarded and succeeded, although the enemy defended the point on deck, in obtaining possession of the object of their enterprise. Mr. Yates himself killed, in personal conflict, the French Captain, Gallon Lafont, a Capitaine de Vaisseau and a Member of the Legion of Honour.[3] He continued in command of the Amaranthe, the sloop alluded to above, on the West India and Lisbon stations, until April, 1815. In Jan. 1823 he obtained an appointment in the Coast Guard; he assumed command, 4 Jan. 1826, of the Espiègle 18, fitting for the West Indies; in Aug. 1827 (having been advanced to Post-rank 12 March preceding) he returned to England a passenger in the Rattlesnake 28; and since 1 Dec. 1847 he has been employed, at Portsmouth, in the Blenheim steam guard-ship of 450 horse-power, and Illustrious 72, depot-ship of Ordinary. His appointment to the Illustrious took place 24 Jan. 1843. Agents – Collier and Snee.