A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Annesley, Francis Charles
ANNESLEY. (Commander, 1814, f-p., 18; h-p., 30.)
Francis Charles Annesley died, 30 Jan. 1846.
This officer entered the Navy, in Jan. 1798, as a Volunteer, on board the Greyhound 32, Capt. Rich. Lee, on the West India station; became Midshipman, in Feb. 1799, of the America 64, Capt. John Smith, in the North Sea; served, during a subsequent attachment of four years to the Thames 32, Capts. Wm. Lukin and Aiskew Paffard Hollis, in Sir Jas. Saumarez’ action vrith the combined squadrons in the Gut of Gibraltar, 13 July, 1801; and after a further employment of 18 months with Capt. Stephen Thos. Digby in the Vestal and Abgo frigates, on the Home and Africa stations, was appointed Acting-Lieutenant, in Oct. 1806, of the Arab 22, Capt. Keith Maxwell. Being officially promoted while in the West Indies, by commission dated 14 Jan. 1808, he next served as Lieutenant, from April following until March, 1812, of the Pilot 18, Capt. John Toup Nicolas, on the Mediterranean station. During that period Mr. Annesley bore a distinguished share in many gallant and important enterprizes, particularly on 8 July, 1810, when, in conjunction with Lieut. Geo. Penruddocke, he brought out two gun-boats well fastened to a small island on the coast of Naples, and thence defended by a heavy fire of musketry – on 25 of the same month, when he similarly shared in the capture and destruction of 31 transports, laden with stores and provisions for Murat’s army at Scylla, together with seven large gun-boats and five armed scampavias[1] – in April, 1811, when he was especially noticed for his zeal and exertions in getting off three vessels hauled high on the beach under the town of Monasteracci, and protected by a party of soldiers and armed peasantry – and on 26 May following, when the boats of the Pilot, under the orders of Lieut. Alex. Campbell and himself, took and destroyed, on the beach close to the town of Strongoli, four settees, laden with commissariat stores, and guarded by a tower within half musket-shot distance, as well as by a detachment of at least 140 troops. Until advanced to the rank of Commander, 30 July, 1814, Mr. Annesley afterwards served in the Grampus, Vestal, and Venerable, flag-ships in the West Indies of Rear- Admirals Sir Fras. Laforey and Philip Chas. Durham. He then successively joined the Satellite, Spider, and Heron sloops, the latter of which he paid off about Sept. 1815. Commander Annesley was not afterwards employed.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1810, p. 1850.