Royal Naval Biography/Dix, Edward
EDWARD DIX, Esq.
[Post-Captain of 1809.]
Received the first rudiments of a classical education at the King’s school, Canterbury, in which city his father, a very respectable clergyman, was then resident; and entered the navy in 1790, as a midshipman on board the Monarch 74, under the patronage of Captain (afterwards Admiral) Peter Rainier. He subsequently joined the Hermione frigate, and served in her, on the West India station, for a period of three years, during which he witnessed many of the horrible atrocities perpetrated at St. Domingo, after the revolt of the black population – acts at which humanity shudders[1].
The dreadful mortality which visited our ships and troops during the years 1793, 1794, and 1795, is still fresh in the recollection of many persons. Exposed as Mr. Dix invariably was to the most laborious and severe duties, under the baleful influence of a tropical sun, it is not to be wondered at that he shared in the sickness so general. Though blessed by nature with a very strong constitution, and with a cheerful evenness of temper not easily surmounted by privations or difficulties, yet these advantages, great as they were, could not exempt him from the common lot. Three several times was he attacked by the yellow fever; and the last of these visitations had nearly proved fatal, for he was so debilitated by it, and by a low intermitting fever and ague which succeeded it, that certain death was pronounced to await him if not speedily removed to another climate: he accordingly returned to England.
In Aug. 1797, Mr. Dix was made a Lieutenant, and appointed to the Pompée 80, commanded by his friend Captain James Vashon, under whom he subsequently served in the Neptune 98, and Princess Royal of similar force; likewise as flag Lieutenant from the time of that officer’s promotion and appointment to the command at Leith until 1806; when, finding advancement slow and uncertain at home, he again sailed for the West Indies, with a strong recommendation from Admiral Rainier to Sir Alexander Cochrane, by whom he was appointed first of the flag-ship immediately on his arrival; and afterwards ordered to act as Captain of the Arab 20.
During the short period of five weeks that Lieutenant Dix commanded the Arab, every person on board, with the exception of himself and eight others, was attacked by the yellow fever: 33 fell victims to its ravages. Being the only officer who escaped, a more than double duty devolved upon him; and the anxiety, distress of mind, and fatigue he endured, whilst in that most trying situation, beggars all description. It is but justice to him, however, to say, that in the midst of his avocations he still found time and opportunity to alleviate the sufferings of his officers and men. Every comfort which the nature of such a situation could admit of, was afforded; every refreshment which his slender purse could procure, was obtained; and he now has the pleasure of reflecting, that to his humane care and attention, under Divine Providence, the preservation of many valuable lives was owing.
On the 26th Sept. 1807, Lieutenant Dix was promoted by Sir Alexander Cochrane to the command of the Cygnet sloop of war, at Tortola; from whence he sailed for England with nine merchant ships under his convoy, five of which unhappily foundered with all their crews during the passage home.
After undergoing a thorough repair, the Cygnet was employed in the North Sea, where she captured the Danish privateers Christiana and Giengielderen; the former a brig of 14 guns and 60 men, the latter a sloop mounting 4 guns with a complement of 25 men. During the same cruise, she was warmly engaged with some batteries on the coast of Norway; on which occasion her commander’s hat was struck by a 9-pound shot, himself sustaining no further injury than a good deal of inflammation on the top of his head, and some defect in his sight, both of which, however, were removed in a few days.
About this period. Captain Dix fortunately succeeded in saving the lives of 5 men, who were discovered clinging to the miserable wreck of a vessel; in which perilous situation they had been several days exposed to the most dreadful weather, without a particle of food, their fingers and toes frostbitten, and bereft of every hope, having seen 9 of their shipmates perish before their eyes. At a great risk, one of the Cygnet’s boats was sent to their rescue, and they were brought on board that sloop, where warm blankets and friction restored the use of their benumbed limbs, whilst soup was administered to them in small quantities, until their exhausted and enfeebled stomachs could bear more solid food. Little did Captain Dix think that he would need himself, in a few days, the relief he thus afforded to others.
Endeavouring to get into the Frith of Forth, a sudden change of wind drove the Cygnet close to St. Abb’s head; and as the gale, which encreased to a hurricane, blew directly on the shore, from which she was only a quarter of a mile distant, the destruction of all on board appeared inevitable. From the 14th to the 16th Oct., 1808, the Cygnet remained in this hopeless situation: her guns had been thrown overboard, and her masts cut away to ease her; the whole of her officers and crew resigned themselves to their fate, and awaited in silence the moment when the only cable by which she rode, should part, and their bodies be cast upon, and lacerated by, the numerous rocks around them. But when every hope had long been relinquished, and no human aid could avail, God mercifully interposed his power to save them, the wind again suddenly shifted, and a vessel sent by Vice-Admiral Vashon to their assistance was consequently enabled to tow them into a place of safety. No sooner was this done than Captain Dix, his officers and men, walked in procession to the Episcopal Church at Leith, where they returned public thanks to the Almighty for their miraculous escape.
After being refitted, the Cygnet was ordered to the West Indies; and on the 18th Dec. 1809, we find her assisting at the destruction of two French 40-gun frigates, laden with warlike stores and provisions, moored in Ance la Barque, Guadaloupe, and defended by several batteries. The particulars of this service will be found detailed in the Addenda to our memoir of Vice-Admiral Ballard, at p. 878 et seq. of Vol. I, Part II. The following is an extract of that officer’s public letter to Sir Alexander Cochrane:–
“From Captain Dix I received every assistance the nature of the service required; who, I trust, stands high in your estimation.”
For his conduct on this occasion. Captain Dix was immediately advanced to post rank, and his commission dated back to the day of the action.
During the operations against Guadaloupe in Jan. and Feb. 1810, the subject of this memoir acted as captain of the Sceptre 74, bearing the broad pendant of Commodore Ballard, then serving on shore with the army.
Captain Dix returned to England about June 1810; and in the following year we find him again commanding the Sceptre, pro tempore, she being then attached to the Basque roads squadron. His next appointment was, May 19, 1813, to the Royal Oak 74, bearing the flag of Lord Amelius Beauclerk, with whom he proceeded on a cruise between the North Cape and Iceland, for the purpose of intercepting the American Commodore Rodgers, whose disgraceful flight from that station has been noticed at p. 380 et seq. of Suppl., Part I.
In May 1814, after negociating with the French General commanding at Rochelle, for a suspension of hostilities, Lord Amelius Beauclerk struck his flag, and the Royal Oak was ordered to Bourdeaux, from whence she conveyed Rear-Admiral Malcolm to Bermuda and the coast of America.[2]
Shortly after his arrival on the latter station. Captain Dix was appointed by Sir Alexander Cochrane to the Menelaus frigate, in which ship he was very actively employed, under the immediate orders of Rear-Admiral Cockburn, until the conclusion of the war between Great Britain and the United States; at which period he received the thanks of that officer, and of the commander-in-chief, for his zealous conduct on all occasions.
The Menelaus returned to England in May 1815; and Captain Dix was soon afterwards sent, with the Havannah frigate under his orders, to cruise off the Isle of Bas, where, with the Rhin 38 in company, he captured and destroyed a French convoy ; which piece of service, we believe, was the last of the kind performed by our navy during the usurpation of Napoleon Buonaparte.
Captain Dix paid off the Menelaus in Oct. 1815; and was appointed in March 1816, to superintend the ships in ordinary at Chatham, on which service he remained for the established period of three years. His only daughter is married to Lieutenant-Colonel William Wood, h.p. of the 85th regiment.
Agents.– Messrs. Cooke, Halford and Son.