A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Foley, Osborne
FOLEY. (Captain, 1833. f-p., 16; h-p., 19.)
Osborne Foley is nephew of Admiral of the White the late Sir Thos. Foley, G.C.B.[1]
This officer entered the Navy, 4 July, 1812, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Tenedos 38, Capt. Hyde Parker, in which frigate he witnessed the Endymion’s capture of the American ship President, 15 Jan. 1815. In Sept. of the latter year he became Midshipman of the Tonnant 80, bearing the flag at Cork of Sir Benj. Hallowell; and in Nov. 1818, he joined the Rochfort 74, successive flag-ship in the Mediterranean of Sir Thos. Fras. Fremantle and Sir Graham Moore – under the latter of whom he was created a Lieutenant 5 Feb. 1833. His next appointments were, on the same and Home stations – 31 Jan. 1822, to the Martin 20, Capts. Christ. Crakenthorpe Askew and Henry Eden – and 18 June, 1825, to the Pyramus 42, Capts. Robt. Gambier and Geo. Rose Sartorius. Attaining the rank of Commander 28 April, 1827, he afterwards, as Second Captain, joined, 21 May, 1831, and 22 March, 1832, the Spartiate 76, and Asia 84 – the latter bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Wm. Parker off Lisbon. Since his last promotion, which was oonferred on him in compliment to the memory of his uncle, 16 Jan. 1833, Capt. Foley has been on half-pay. Agents – Messrs. Chard.
- ↑ Sir Thomas Foley, an officer of considerable reputation, commanded the St. George 98, bearing the flag of Sir Hyde Parker, in Hotham’s two actions with the French fleet in 1795; officiated as Flag-Captain to Sir Charles Thompson on board the Britannia 100, off Cape St. Vincent, 14 Feb. 1797; led the British fleet into action, as Captain of the Goliath 74, on the glorious 1 Aug. 1798; and commanded Lord Nelson’s flag-ship, the Elephant, at Copenhagen, 3 April, 1801. In 1811 he became Commander-in-Chief in the Downs; and at the period of his death, 9 Jan. 1833, he was Rear-Admiral of Great Britain and Port-Admiral at Portsmouth.