Royal Naval Biography/Radford, Samuel
SAMUEL RADFORD, Esq.
[Commander.]
Obtained his first commission on the 18th Aug. 1806; served on board the Aboukir 74, Captain George Parker, during the Walcheren expedition; and was thus spoken of in the London Gazette, June 5th, 1810:–
“Vice-Admiral Douglas has transmitted to John Wilson Croker, Esq. a letter from Captain Farquhar, of H.M. ship Desirée, giving an account of an attack made on the night of the 29th ultimo, by the boats of that ship, with those of the Quebec 32, Britomart sloop, and Bold gun-brig, under the directions of Lieutenant Samuel Radford, of the Desirée, upon some armed vessels lying in the Vlie; one of which, a French lugger, of six guns and 26 men, was driven on shore and burnt; the following vessels were captured and brought out:– viz. a French lugger, of 12 guns and 42 men; a schuyt privateer, of 4 guns and 17 men; a Dutch gun-boat; and a small row-boat. Captain Farquhar highly commends the good conduct of Lieutenant Radford, and the other officers and men employed on this occasion. No loss was sustained on our part: the enemy had one man killed, and three wounded.”
On the 12th Dec. 1811, the boats of the Desirée, under the command of Lieutenant Radford, captured le Brave French privateer, of 14 guns and 60 men, near the island of Schelling:– “this service,” says Captain Farquhar, “was performed with much judgment.” In Sept. 1813, Mr. Radford commanded the boats of the Heligoland squadron (acting in conjunction with a flotilla under Lieutenant Charles Haultain) in an attempt to capture or destroy eight Danish gun-vessels, lying at Busum, a small and intricate harbour near the mouth of the Elbe. He was promoted to his present rank on the 22d Jan. 1814; appointed to the Nimrod sloop, of 20 guns, Sept. 18th, 1828; and presented with the following address in the spring of 1832:
“To Commander Samuel Radford, of H.M.S. Nimrod, stationed in the river Shannon.”
“The Address of the Magistrates and Gentlemen in the vicinity of the above station.
“Sir,– The blessings of peace being at length felt on those shores, for the protection of which His Majesty’s ship Nimrod, under your command, was stationed in the river Shannon (and the fruits of your active, judicious and unremitting exertions being manifested in the security which has so mainly resulted therefrom), – we hasten to assure you of our unfeigned regret, that the regulations of the service should render your removal necessary, and thus deprive us of your effective and valuable services. Your excellent arrangements, and unceasing vigilance, in the discharge of the important duties which devolved upon you as an officer and a magistrate, by preventing the fearful disorders which prevailed in Clare from reaching the opposite coast, justly entitle you to our warmest gratitude; and although your services here are no longer deemed requisite, tranquillity being for the present restored, we entertain a hope, that should events once more require the presence of a ship of war in the Shannon, your intimate knowledge of the localities of the country, the complete success of the enterprise committed to you, and the admirable conduct and discipline of the officers and men under your command, will point you out to His Majesty’s Government as the fittest person to entrust with a similar commission. We now reluctantly take our leave of you, sincerely wishing that health, happiness, and prosperity may accompany you in your honorable career; and beg to subscribe ourselves
Your obliged friends and well-wishers.
[Here follow about sixty signatures.]
addendum.
SAMUEL RADFORD, Esq.
[Captain of 1832.]
Whose services are recorded in Vol. IV. Part I., was promoted to the rank of captain May 31st, 1832.