vestigated, his son, who had been born to, and educated in, the expectation of a handsome competence, found himself comparatively pennyless, and left to make his way in the world by his own unassisted exertion. He, however, followed the original bent of his inclination, and entered the army. At the commencement of the French revolutionary war, his regiment was ordered to the West Indies, and formed part of the grenadier brigade, under the command of the late Duke of Kent, at the reduction of Martinique, in 1794. His professional zeal was of the first order, and bore all the distinctive marks of gallantry and enthusiasm – properties which, coupled with his soldier-like deportment, could not fail to obtain the approbation and secure the esteem of his royal highness. At the storming of Fort Bourbon, he was mortally wounded; but his royal friend soothed his dying moments, with the consoling assurance, that he would bestow his future patronage on his only son (the subject of this memoir); and a promise once given by that admirable man, it is well known, was never violated.
Mr. George Edward Watts accordingly entered the navy as a midshipman, in 1797, under the auspices of Prince Edward; and served the greater part of his time in the Driver sloop, Prevoyante frigate. Assistance, of 60 guns, and Waakzaamheid 26, on the West India, Halifax, and North Sea stations. The latter ship being paid off at the peace of Amiens, his royal patron applied to Earl St. Vincent for his appointment to another; and the noble lord replied with elegant brevity – “I will obey your royal highness’s commands touching Mr. Watts, happy on all occasions to give proof of the high respect with which I have the honor to be,” &c.
Mr. Watts was immediately appointed Admiralty midshipman of the Leander, 50, fitting for the flag of Vice-Admiral Sir Andrew Mitchell, on the North American station, in which ship he was soon advanced to master’s-mate: his probationary term of service he completed as acting lieutenant, on board the Lily sloop.
In May, 1804, Mr. Watts was promoted, by Earl St. Vincent, to the rank of lieutenant, and at the same time appointed
