RIGHT HONORABLE
LORD AMELIUS BEAUCLERK,
Vice-Admiral of the White; Knight Commander of the most honorable Military Order of the Bath; and Fellow of the Royal Society.
This officer is the third son of Aubrey, fourth Duke of St. Albans, by Lady Catharine Ponsonby, daughter of William, second Earl of Besborough, and grand-daughter of William, third Duke of Devonshire. His Lordship was born about the year 1768, and entered the naval service on board the Jackall cutter, commanded by Lieutenant Bailley, in June 1782. After serving for twelve months in that vessel, he removed into the Salisbury, and proceeded with the late Vice-Admiral John Campbell[1] to the Newfoundland station, where he continued during a period of two years; and subsequently joined the expedition bearing the broad pendant of Commodore (afterwards Lord) Gardner[2], whom he accompanied to the West Indies.
- ↑ Vice-Admiral Campbell died, Dec. 16, 1790. He was a Midshipman on board the Centurion, when she made her voyage round the world, under the late Lord Anson. His character for valour was established in the memorable defeat of the Marquis de Conflans, in 1759, when he served as Captain to Sir Edward Hawke. Captain Campbell was, on that occasion, despatched to England with intelligence of that glorious victory. He was a man of modest unassuming disposition, and preserved his original simplicity of manners, although living in habits of association with the first people in the kingdom. It is this gentleman of whom the humorous anecdote has been told, that upon this or some similar occasion, Lord Anson, as they were going in his Lordship’s carriage to carry the news to the King, said, “Captain Campbell, the King will knight you, if you think proper.” – “Troth my Lord,” said the Captain, who retained his Scotch dialect as long as he lived, “I ken nae use that will be to me.” – “But your lady may like it,” replied his Lordship. “Weel then,” rejoined the Captain, “his Majesty may knight her if he pleases.”
- ↑ Admiral Lord Gardner died at Bath, Jan. 1, 1809, in the 66th year of
taining the most minute and authentic account of the Battle of the Nile, and all that occurred immediately before and subsequent to it, with many of the operations by land as well as by sea; to which interesting volume the Editor of this compilation acknowledges himself indebted for the aid it has afforded him in drawing the foregoing sketch of Sir Benjamin Hallowell’s services.
