Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall sp3.djvu/201

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186
POST-CAPTAINS OF 1813.

the terrible mauling she had received: her anchors and figure-head were shot away; every boat, except one, was destroyed.

The subject of this sketch was made commander Dec. 24, 1803; appointed to the Cadmus brig of 10 guns, about Nov. 1809; and posted Dec. 4, 1813.

Agents.– Messrs. Chard.



JOHN M‘KERLIE, Esq.
A Magistrate for Wigtonshire, N.B.
[Post-Captain of 1813.]

Is descended from a Scottish warrior, who resided at Cruggleton castle, in the above county, and was expelled from thence by the English, for his faithful adherence to Sir William Wallace, the renowned champion of Caledonia, and the patron of her expiring independency; which chieftain undertook an expedition into West Galloway, for the express purpose of reinstating him in his paternal domain. Ever since that period, the M‘Kerlies have continued to reside in the said district.

The subject of this memoir was born June 7, 1777. His father, who occupied a large farm belonging to the Earl of Galloway, early determined upon sending him to sea, and accordingly placed him, by way of trial, and when very young, under the care of a friend engaged in the Baltic trade, with whom, we believe, he likewise made several voyages across the Atlantic.

Early in 1794, we find him joining the Arethusa frigate, commanded by Sir Edward Pellew (now Viscount Exmouth), to whose favorable notice he soon recommended himself, by his activity, bravery, and zeal. It would be superfluous to recount the many battles and skirmishes in which he was engaged while serving under that distinguished officer, in the Arethusa, Indefatigable, and Impetueux: the most important of them are recorded at pp. 213–220 of Vol. I. Part I.

In the Indefatigable’s gallant action with les Droits de l’Homme, Mr. M‘Kerlie lost his right arm, and received a severe wound in the thigh. On the 6th June, 1800, when a