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A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Oliver, Robert (a)

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1859446A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Oliver, Robert (a)William Richard O'Byrne

OLIVER. (Commander, 1814. f-p., 15; h-p., 34.)

Robert Oliver (a) entered the Navy, 28 Nov. 1798, as Midshipman, on board La Seine, of 48 guns and 281 men, Capt. David Milne, employed at first in the Channel and off the coast of Africa, and then in the West Indies, where, 21 Aug. 1800, he assisted at the capture, in the Mona Passage, of La Vengeance of 52 guns and 326 men, at the close of a brilliant action of two hours and a half, in which the British lost 13 men killed and 29 wounded, and the French more than twice that number. After a servitude of three years and four months in the North Sea and Channel, nearly the whole time as Master’s Mate, in the Amethyst 36, Capts. Henry Rich. Glynn, Alex. Campbell, and John Wm. Spranger, and Penelope 36, Capt. Wm. Robt. Broughton, he was nominated, 14 Nov. 1805, Sub-Lieutenant of the Liberty 14, Lieut.-Commander John Codd. He was made full Lieutenant, 30 Jan. 1806, into the Captain 74, Capt. Geo. Hopewell Stephens, lying in Portsmouth Harbour; and subsequently appointed – 18 Feb. 1806, to the Champion 24, Capts. Robt. Howe Bromley, Kenneth Mackenzie, and Jas. Coutts Crawford, in which vessel he visited Halifax and Quebec – 26 May, 1808, to the Rover sloop, Capt. Fras. John Nott, attached to the force in the North Sea, where he remained a year and eight months – towards the close of 1810, to the Tonnant 80, Capt. Sir John Gore, off Lisbon in May, 1811, to the gun-boat service at Cadiz – 21 Sept. following, to the Queen 74, Capt. Lord Colville, in the Channel – and, in Jan. and March, 1813, to the Ville de Paris 110 and Boyne 98, both commanded by Capt. Geo. Burlton. Prior to joining the Tonnant Lieut. Oliver had been the means, in 1810, of rescuing from destruction a Spanish frigate from Cadiz bound to Ferrol, together with the whole of her crew, upwards of 200 soldiers, and a large quantity of specie. For his signal exertions on the occasion he was earnestly recommended by the Spanish to the British Government. When Second of the Boyne he was present, 13 Feb. 1814, in a partial action fought with the Toulon fleet, in which that ship bore the brunt and greatly distinguished herself. In the ensuing April Lieut. Oliver (who, we may here observe, had been often employed on detached service and had participated in various cutting-out affairs) witnessed the fall of Genoa. His promotion to the rank of Commander took place 27 Aug. in the same year, and since that period he has been on half-pay.

During his career afloat Commander Oliver received not less than five wounds in the head, in addition to one in the right arm and other grievous injuries, which have had the effect for many years past of incapacitating him from great exertion. Agent – John P. Muspratt.