A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Mitchell, Lewis Dunbar
MITCHELL. (Lieut., 1817. f-p., 22; h-p., 14.)
Lewis Dunbar Mitchell, born 3 Dec. 1796, is a relative of Admiral Sir Robt. Calder, Bart., K.C.B., who died in 1818.
This officer entered the Navy, 28 March, 1811, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Theseus 74, Capt. Wm. Prowse. After a servitude of more than two years in the North Sea – a great part of the time in the capacity of Midshipman – and a voyage to St. Helena for the purpose of convoying home a large China fleet, he removed, in Dec. 1813, to the Granicus 36, Capt. Wm. Furlong Wise. In that ship, which was at first employed off the coasts of Spain and Portugal, he had charge of the signals, and was severely wounded in the leg at the bombardment of Algiers 27 Aug. 1816.[1] In Jan. and April, 1817, he successively joined, at Plymouth, the Impregnable 104, flag-ship of Sir John Thos. Duckworth, and the Lee 20, Capt. John Pasco; and on 29 Sept. in the same year, at which period he was serving in the West Indies on board the Primrose 18, Capt. Chas. Geo. Rodney Phillott, he was promoted to a Lieutenancy in the Larne 20, Capt. Abraham Lowe. He went back to the Primrose in Oct. 1818; and (that vessel being paid off on 19 of the ensuing month) was afterwards appointed – 29 Nov. 1825, to the Coast Blockade, as Supernumerary-Lieutenant of the Ramillies 74, Capt. Hugh Pigot – 19 Nov. 1828, to the Coast Guard – 13 Oct. 1831, to a three years’ command of the Greyhound Revenue-cruizer – and 22 Dec. 1837, to the office of Admiralty Agent on board a contract mail steam-vessel. From the aggravated effects of the wound he had received at Algiers, Lieut. Mitchell was under the necessity, in June, 1842, of resigning the situation last named. Although prevented, from the same cause, from resuming the active duties of his profession, he has hitherto been unsuccessful in his endeavours to obtain a pension.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1816, p. 1793.