Mr. Milne entered the naval service at a very early age, and served during the latter part of the American war, as a Midshipman in the Canada, of 74 guns, commanded by the late Hon. Sir William Cornwallis, one of the best seamen and most determined officers in the British navy.
The Canada formed part of the fleet under Sir Samuel Hood, when attacked at St. Kitts, by the Count de Grasse, on the 25th Jan. 1782, and two following days[1]; and on the glorious 12th April, 1782[2], she behaved in such a manner as to attract particular notice. Her loss on this memorable occasion amounted to 12 men killed and 23 wounded. After the battle Mr. Milne was made Master’s Mate.
About the end of July in the same year, the Canada sailed from Jamaica in company with the Ramillies and Centaur, ships of the line, Pallas frigate, and the French prizes Ville de Paris, Glorieux, Hector, Ardent, Caton, and Jason, the whole under the orders of Rear-Admiral Graves. Of all these ships, only the Canada and Jason reached England. In consequence of a dreadful hurricane which occurred on the 17th Sept., the Ardent was compelled to put back; the Caton bore away for Halifax; the Ville de Paris, Ramillies, Centaur[1], Glorieux, and Hector, foundered; and the Pallas was run ashore at Fayal.
Peace soon after taking place, Mr. Milne was cast adrift, unprovided for; he therefore entered into the employment of the East India Company, in which he continued for some time; but on the breaking out of the French revolutionary war in 1793, he re-entered the royal navy, and proceeded to the West Indies in the Boyne, of 98 guns, bearing the flag of Sir John Jervis (now Earl St. Vincent), to whose favourable notice he soon recommended himself, in his course of service against the French islands, and was promoted by him to a Lieutenancy; in which rank he served on board the Blanche, when Captain Faulkner brought the French frigate la Pique to action off Guadaloupe, Jan. 5, 1795. In this hard fought battle, the heroic Faulkner was shot through the heart just after he had lashed the enemy’s bowsprit to the capstern with his own hands; and as the boats of both ships were
