Royal Naval Biography/Peat, David
DAVID PEAT, Esq.
[Commander.]
Was born near Kirkaldy, in Scotland, June 21 st, 1795; and entered the navy under the patronage of the present Admiral Sir Philip C. H. Durham, as midshipman on board the Archer gun-brig, in 1810. After bearing a part in an affair with some Danish gun-boats, he joined the Mosquito sloop, stationed off Flushing, in which vessel he was repeatedly engaged with the enemy’s batteries. He subsequently served in the Dunira, Ajax, and Ganymede, (the latter ship commanded by Captain William M‘Culloch,) and was the first officer ever sent on the service now known by the name of the coast blockade. Whilst thus employed, he had several desperate encounters with the Deal smugglers, and received as many letters of approbation from the Admiralty and his various superiors. In consequence thereof, he was made a lieutenant on the 24th Nov. 1817.
In the summer of the following year, Mr. Peat again joined Captain M‘Culloch, then commanding the Severn 50, and was stationed by him at Dungeness, where, amongst other affairs with illicit traders, in which lives were lost, he was once attacked singly, in open day, by three desperadoes, against whom he successfully defended himself, killing one on the spot, and, although possessed of no other weapon than his regulation sword, compelling the others to scamper.
An attack of ague having compelled Lieutenant Peat to leave the Dungeness station, he was next employed at Folkstone, in the neighbourhood of which place he on one occasion received two pistol balls through his thigh. On the morning of the 9th June 1821, being then on the cliffs to the eastward, with only three men, he was attacked by a numerous gang of lawless ruffians, no less than sixty of whom were armed. In this extremely unequal conflict he received two musket balls, six pistol balls, and ten slugs; one of his small party, a quarter-master, was shot through in five places, and fell dead at his side; the two other men were also brought to the ground, one having received a ball in the groin, and one being shot in the knee. For his conduct and sufferings, Lieutenant Peat was immediately promoted to the rank of commander; and, in the following year, granted a pension.