Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall sp2.djvu/211

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POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.
197

tain Robert White, R.M. together with the officers and men under their respective commands, for the gallantry and zeal displayed by them on this occasion. “The enemy’s defeat,” says Captain Sayer, “was so complete, that they left behind many of their arms, drums, and military apparatus, even their hats; not thirty of them being able to escape in a body together.”

On the 30th of the following month. Fort Marrack, situated on a promontory to the westward of Batavia, mounting fifty-four heavy guns, and garrisoned by 180 soldiers, besides the crews of two gun-boats, was most heroically stormed and carried by Lieutenant Edmund Lyons, of the Minden, at the head of only 2 midshipmen (one of them a mere child in years) and 32 men. The particulars of this very brilliant achievement will be given in our memoir of that gallant and enterprising officer, – a Post-Captain of 1814.

Agent.– Messrs. Stilwell.



WILLIAM ELLIOT, Esq.
A Companion of the Most Honorable Military Order of the Bath, and Knight Commander of the Royal Portuguese Order of the Tower and Sword[1].
[Post-Captain of 1810.]

This officer was born at Cawsand, in Cornwall, Dec. 15, 1782; and he entered the naval service, Feb. 21, 1795, with no better prospect than that of ultimately becoming a purser; his only professional friend being Mr. P. Ellery, captain’s clerk of the Irresistible 74, commanded by the late Admiral John Leigh Douglas, who allowed him to join that ship as an assistant to his amanuensis[2].

In the action off l’Orient, June 23, 1795, we find Mr. Elliot serving as a volunteer of the first class, and receiving a wound, which, although not dangerous, was of such a nature as to render it necessary for him to be sent home in the hospital-ship attached to Lord Bridport’s fleet. Some time after his recovery, he was removed from the guard-ship at Plymouth to the Carnatic 74, Captain Richard Grindall,

  1. Captain Elliot’s name is mis-spelt in the Admiralty List.
  2. Admiral J. L. Douglas died in Montague Square, London Nov. 13, 1810.