A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Edwards, David (a)
EDWARDS. (Commander, 1827. f-p., 15; h-p., 37.)
David Edwards entered the Navy, 31 July, 1795, as a Volunteer, on board the San Fiorenzo of 42 guns, Capts. Sir Harry Burrard Neale and Wm. Chas. Paterson. While in that ship, besides being much in attendance on the King off Weymouth, he assisted, in company with La Nymphe, at the capture of La Résistance of 48, and La Constance of 24 guns, 9 March, 1797 – passed, soon afterwards, through the mutinous fleet at the Nore – took part in a very warm conflict of nearly two hours, which terminated in the defeat, by the San Fiorenzo and her consort, the Amelia 38, of a French squadron, consisting of three frigates and a gun-vessel, 9 April, 1799 – and was present, 2 July following, in an attack made by Rear-Admiral Chas. Morice Pole on a Spanish squadron lying in Aix Roads. Towards the close of 1801 Mr. Edwards proceeded to the West Indies, as Master’s Mate of the Centaur 74, Capt. Bendall Robt. Littlehales, and, on 5 Sept. 1803, was there promoted to a Lieutenancy in the Ulysses 44, Capt. Edwin Henry Columbine. From 27 Oct. 1804, to 24 June, 1806, he next served in the Mediterranean with Capt. Geo. Digby, on board the Beagle 18, and Swiftsure 74, one of the prizes taken at Trafalgar; and in July, 1809, he assumed command, under Capt. Philip Carteret, of the first division of gun-boats employed on the Walcheren expedition. During the two last years of the war Mr. Edwards appears to have been attached, on the Leith station, to the Adamant 50, and Latona 38, Capts. Matthew Buckle and Andrew Smith. He was advanced to the command, 11 May, 1827, of the Barham 50, Capt. Sir John Louis, on the Jamaica station, where he removed, on 12 Sept. in the same year, to the Fairy sloop. He returned to England in 1828; and has since been on half-pay.