Royal Naval Biography/Dickson, Archibald
ARCHIBALD DICKSON, Esq
[Post-Captain of 1802.]
This officer obtained the rank of Post-Captain April 29, 1802; and commanded the Akbar of 50 guns, on the South American station, at the close of the late war.
Agent.– Harry Cook, Esq.
addendum.
ARCHIBALD DICKSON, Esq.
(Vol. II. Part II. p. 712).
This officer is the son of General John Dickson, by Elizabeth, daughter of Alexander Collingwood, Esq. of Unthank Hall, Northumberlandshire. He was born at Morpeth, in the same county, June 26th, 1772; and entered the royal navy in Aug. 1786, from which period he served as midshipman on board the Goliah 74, Diana frigate, Racehorse sloop, and Queen Charlotte first rate, until promoted to the rank of lieutenant, July 24th, 1794. The latter ship bore the flag of Earl Howe on the “glorious first of June.”
We next find Mr, Dickson serving as lieutenant of the Seahorse frigate, Captain (afterwards Sir Thomas F.) Fremantle, and receiving a wound at the attack made by Nelson upon Santa Cruz, in July 1797[1].
On the 17th Jan. 1798, the Seahorse, then commanded by Captain (afterwards Sir Edward James) Foote, on the Irish station, captured la Belliqueuse, French privateer, of 18 guns and 120 men. She subsequently proceeded to the Mediterranean, where Lieutenant Dickson assisted at the capture of la Sensible frigate, after a short action, near the island of Pantellaria, June 27th, 1798[2].
Lieutenant Dickson’s next appointment was to the Ville de Paris 110, bearing the flag of Earl St. Vincent, in which ship he continued until advanced to the rank of commander, Jan. 1st, 1801. His post commission bears date April 29th, 1802.
Captain Dickson commanded the Sea Fencibles at Dingle, in Ireland, from June 1807 until the dissolution of that force in 1810; and the Akbar frigate, mounting 60 guns, from May 1813 until Nov. 1814, part of which time he was employed on the Halifax station. He married his first cousin, Jane, daughter of the late Admiral William Dickson, and sister to Commander David John Dickson[3].