Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall sp2.djvu/403

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811.
383

the storm, without a vessel of any description in sight, one of her lower-deck guns nearly got adrift, but, providentially, through the active exertions of her officers and crew, the imminent danger that at this instant seemed to threaten every one on board was speedily averted. In 48 hours after the hurricane subsided, the Terrible was completely jury-rigged, and ready to set studding sails if wanted!!

Lieutenant Dixon quitted the Terrible, at Plymouth, in Nov. 1806; and remained upon half pay till June 4, 1807, when he was appointed second of the Horatio frigate. Captain George Scott.

In Sept. following, the Horatio sailed from Portsmouth for Quebec, with Sir James Craig, the newly-appointed Governor-General of Canada. She was subsequently employed on the North American and West India stations. In 1808, Lieutenant Dixon became first of the Horatio; and on the 10th Feb. 1809, he was badly wounded by a musket-ball (which entered his left groin and passed through the thigh), while engaging la Junon French frigate, – the capture of which ship has been described at p. 147 et seq. of Vol. II. Part I. For his gallant conduct on this occasion, he was promoted to the rank of Commander, and his commission as such dated back to the day of the action. He returned to England, as a passenger on board the Hussar frigate, in the month of June following.

In the summer of 1810, we find Captain Dixon serving as a volunteer under his father, on the Baltic station. Towards the latter end of the same year, he obtained the command of the Fly brig, in which vessel he continued until his advancement to post rank, June 28, 1811. From that period he served as flag-captain to Rear Admiral Dixon, in the Vigo and Montague, 74’s, on the Baltic and South American stations, until July 1813, when he exchanged with Captain Peter Heywood into the Nereus 42.

After accompanying the homeward bound trade to the northward as far as the equator. Captain Dixon returned to Rio de Janeiro, from whence he was sent to assume the command of a small squadron stationed in the Rio de la Plata, where he continued until relieved by Captain Sir Ed-