Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall sp3.djvu/431

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
410
POST-CAPTAINS OF 1814.

earnestly recommended to Sir Alexander Cochrane’s “favorable notice.” The following is an extract of the Rear-Admiral’s public letter, announcing the failure of the expedition against Baltimore:–

“An advance of this description, against superior numbers of an enemy so posted, could not be effected without loss. I have the honor to enclose a return of what has been suffered by those of the naval department acting with the army on this occasion[1]; and it is, Sir, with the greatest pride and pleasure I report to you, that the brigade of seamen with small arms, commanded by Captain Edward Crofton, assisted by Captains Sulivan, Money, and Ramsay (the three senior commanders in the fleet), who commanded divisions under him, behaved with a gallantry and steadiness which would have done honor to the ablest troops, and which attracted the admiration of the army.”

Captain Sulivan was promoted to post rank Oct. 19, 1814; and nominated a C.B. in 1815. He married, April 19, 1808, Henrietta, youngest daughter of Captain Bartholomew James, R.N.

Agent.– John Chippendale, Esq.



THOMAS ALEXANDER, Esq.
A Companion of the Moot Honorable Military Order of the Bath.
[Post-Captain of 1814.]

This officer entered the naval service in April, 1795; received his first commission in Jan. 1802; and conducted an explosion vessel into Aix roads, April 11, 1809; at which latter period he was serving as Senior lieutenant of the Resolution 74. His promotion to the rank of commander took place soon after the performance of that gallant service[2].

Early in 1812, Captain Alexander was appointed to the Devastation bomb, in which vessel we find him very actively employed on the Baltic and North American stations, for upwards of three years.

The Devastation formed part of the squadron under Cap-

  1. Total 31 killed; Lieutenant Sampson Marshall, of the Diadem, Captain John Robyns, R.M. Mr. C. Ogle, midshipman of the Tonnant, and 46 men wounded; 1 man missing.
  2. See Vol. I. Part I. p. 84.