Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall sp3.djvu/49

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40
POST-CAPTAINS OF 1812.

of one seaman killed, and Lieutenant Tryon dangerously wounded. The enemy’s loss is severe, having 6 killed and 11 wounded.

“At day-light, we saw H.M. brig Zephyr steering down to us: Captain Dickens gave me every assistance in shifting the prisoners, and took the prize in tow. Our own running rigging being very much cut, and for the accommodation of the wounded, I was anxious to get into the Downs myself; but notwithstanding all exertions, the prize very soon went down, having received several shot from us between wind and water. I lament to hear that one of our men was drowned.”

Lieutenant Tryon, it appears, was wounded by one of the guns of the Phipps going off while he was on the enemy’s deck: the shot, a 12-pounder, shattered the bladebone of his left shoulder, carrying away the flesh close to the spine, laying the ribs bare, and occasioning a wound one foot long by seven inches broad. He died in Panton Square, London, Jan. 24, 1811.

Captain Bell’s post commission bears date Feb. 7, 1812.

Agents.– Messrs. Stilwell.



RICHARD SPENCER, Esq.
A Companion of the Most Honorable Military Order of the Bath.
[Post-Captain of 1812.]

Only son of the late Richard Spencer, Esq. merchant of London, in which city he was born Dec. 9, 1779.

This officer entered the navy, as a midshipman on board the Arethusa frigate. Captain the Hon. Seymour Finch, in Sept. 1793. In the month of April following, he joined the Leviathan 74, commanded by the late Lord Hugh Seymour, under whom he bore a part in the memorable battles of May 28 and 29, and June 1, 1794[1]. We next find him in the Sans Pareil 80, bearing the flag of that heroic nobleman, and forming part of Lord Bridport’s fleet at the capture of three French two-deckers, off l’Orient; on which occasion he was slightly wounded[2]. In 1796, and the three following years, he served under his friend Captain Robert Larkan, in the Hornet sloop and Camilla of 20 guns, on the Channel, North American, and West India stations.