Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v2p1.djvu/322

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310
POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800.

part of my duty, having to convey to you the just sentiments vhich the members of this Court entertain of your very able and gallant conduct in the defence made by you of his Majesty’s late ship the Blanche, against a very superior force of the enemy’s ships; and likewise of the spirited support afforded you by the officers of every description, as well as the seamen and royal marines, under your command, in the discharge of their duty; and which reflects upon you and them the highest degree of merit and approbation.”

Captain Mudge subsequently commanded the Phoenix frigate, stationed in the Channel. On the 29th Jan. 1810, the boats of that ship, in company with those of the Jalouse sloop, gallantly boarded and captured le Charles French brig privateer of 14 guns and 90 men. The Phoenix on this occasion had 1 man killed and another wounded.

Our officer’s sister, Elizabeth, married Sir Richard Fletcher, Bart., a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Royal Engineers, who fell in action before St. Sebastian, in Aug. 1813. His brother, Colonel Mudge of the Royal Artillery, and F.R.S., was the author of “An Account of the Operations for accomplishing the Trigonometrical Survey of England and Wales, 3 vols. 4to. 1799–1811.”

Agent.– Thomas Stilwell, Esq.



GEORGE WOLFE, Esq
A Companion of the most Honorable Military Order of the Bath.
[Post-Captain of 1800.]

This officer was born Aug. 3, 1766, and had the misfortune to lose his father when only eight years of age. His mother (a daughter of Colonel Sharpless, who served with credit under Charles, second Duke of Marlborough), after repeated attempts to divert him from his early intentions of becoming a sailor, at length yielded to the persuasions of the late Lady Spencer, under whose patronage he entered the naval service as a Midshipman on board the Ocean of 90 guns, commanded by Captain George Ourry, April 2, 1780[1].

  1. So determined was the subject of this memoir to go to sea, that he twice decamped from his maternal residence for that purpose. The first time he succeeded in reaching the metropolis, and getting on board an Indiaman; but to his great disappointment, was delivered up to his mother and brother on the morning after his entry. His second trip from Northamptonshire towards London, was interrupted by an unexpected meeting