of 1809 he assisted at the capture of the island of Pomégne, near Marseilles, and was reported in terms of high praise for his gallantry in command of the boats at the destruction, with a loss to the enemy of 5 killed and 8 wounded, and to the British of only 2 wounded, of Fort Rioux, near Cape Croisette, mounting 14 guns.[1] On 26 Dec. 1811 he brought out from the harbour of Palamos a well-protected privateer, La Décidé, mounting 2 long 6-pounders (pierced for 6), with a cargo of provisions, from Cette, bound to Barcelona.[2] He assisted next, 29 April, 1812, at the capture and destruction, by the boats of the Volontaire 38, Undaunted 38, and Blossom sloop, under Lieut. John Eagar, of 21, including a national schooner of 4 guns and 74 men, out of a convoy of 26 vessels, at anchor near the mouth of the Rhone. With the boats of his own ship under his orders, he captured, 23 June following, a felucca, La Colombe, of 1 long gun, 8 swivels, and 45 men[3] – an exploit which occasioned a loss to his own people of a Midshipman and 2 sailors wounded, and to the assailed of 3 killed and 7 wounded. In volunteered command of the boats of the Volontaire, Undaunted, and Redwing sloop, he succeeded, 31 March, 1813, in taking and destroying (the British had 1 man killed and 4 severely wounded – the French 4 killed, 5 wounded, and 17 taken prisoners) two strong batteries (mounting 5 36-pounders and 2 24’s) and 14 sail of vessels, at Morjean; and on 2 of the ensuing May he made prize, with the boats of the Volontaire, Undaunted, and Repulse 74, of a convoy lying in the same port. On that occasion, having landed at the head of a large body of seamen and marines, he drove the enemy to the heights in the rear, and there kept them in check until the vessels were secured, and the batteries, on which were found nine gun-carriages and a 13-inch mortar, blown up and completely destroyed. The enemy had 12 _ men killed, and several taken prisoners; and their opponents 2 killed and 4, including their gallant leader, wounded.[4] In reference to the achievement of 31 March, Capt. Waldegrave, in his letter to the Commander-in-Chief, observes : – “Lieut. Shaw’s character stands so high that his conduct on this occasion is only what it always has been; and such testimony as his to the gallantry of all his companions adds to their merit.”[5] He was promoted to the rank of Commander 9 Aug. 1813, but did not afterwards go afloat. On 22 Nov. 1811, the Volontaire, we should have stated, in company at the time with the Perlen 38, was chased, near Toulon, by three French ships-of-the-line and two frigates; but, after a running-fight which lasted several hours, contrived, with her consort, to escape.
SHAW. (Lieutenant, 1845.)
William Eade Shaw passed his examination 7 June, 1837; and from 1839 until within a short period of his promotion to the rank of Lieutenant, 8 Aug. 1845, was employed in the Mediterranean, as Mate, on board the Alecto steam-sloop, Lieut.-Commander Wm. Hoseason. His appointments have since been – 25 Aug. 1845, as Additional, to the Vindictive 50, bearing the flag of Sir Francis Wm. Austen, in North America and the West Indies – 13 Dec. following, to the Endymion 44, Capt. Geo. Robt. Lambert, on the same station, where he was superseded in the early part of 1847 – 27 Oct. in the latter year, again as Additional, to the Penelope steam-frigate of 650 horse-power, bearing the broad pendant of Sir Chas. Hotham on the coast of Africa – and 13 Jan. 1848, as First, to the Heroine 8, Capt. Chas. Edmunds, likewise on the African coast.
SHEARMAN. (Lieutenant, 1841.)
William Marcus Shearman entered the Navy 4 May, 1815; passed his examination 5 June, 1822; and obtained his commission 23 Nov. 1841. He has since been on half-pay.
He is married.
SHEARS. (Lieutenant, 1840.)
John Abelard Shears entered the Navy 2 Feb. 1824; passed his examination in 1830; and while participating, as Mate of the Wasp 16, Capt. Geo. Mansel, in the operations on the coast of Syria, was wounded in the attack upon Sidon 26 Sept. 1840. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant 4 Nov. 1840. His appointments have since been – 15 Dec. 1840, to the Hastings 72, Capt. John Lawrence, in the Mediterranean – 20 April, 1842 (soon after the Hastings had been paid off), to the Talbot 26, Capt. Sir Thos. Raikes Trigge Thompson, fitting for the Pacific – and 13 June, 1846, and 10 Feb. and 24 Sept. 1847, as First, to the Frolic 16, Capt. Cospatrick Baillie Hamilton, Collingwood 80, flag-ship of Sir Geo. Francis Seymour, and Sampson steam-frigate of 467 horse-power, Capt. Thos. Henderson, all on the station last named, where he is now serving. Agent – J. Hinxman.
SHEBBEARE. (Lieutenant, 1813.)
Robert Shebbeare entered the Navy, 4 June, 1806, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the London 98, Capts. Edw. Oliver Osborn and Thos. Western, stationed in the Channel; and from Oct. following until June, 1810, served off Cadiz and in the Mediterranean, part of the time as Midshipman, in the Terrible 74, Capt. Lord Henry Paulet. In Aug. of the latter year he joined the Blake 74, Capt. Edw. Codrington, under whom he was for two years actively employed in co-operation with the patriots on the coast of Spain, particularly at the defence of Cadiz, in conveying four Spanish ships-of-the-line from that place to Minorca (a very arduous service which occupied 38 days), and at the siege of Tarragona. In Sept. 1812 he removed to the Caledonia 120, bearing the flag of Sir Edw. Pellew in the Mediterranean; where he was made Lieutenant, 30 Nov. 1813, into the Swiftsure 74, Capts. Edw. Stirling Dickson, Arden Adderley, and Wm. Henry Webley Parry. In that ship he afterwards proceeded to the West Indies. He invalided home 3 May, 1815; and was suhsequently appointed. – 22 Sept. 1815 and 13 Aug. 1816, to the Niger 38, Capt. Sam. Jackson and Akbar 50, flag-ship of Rear-Admiral Edw. Griffith, both on the North American station, whence he returned to England and was paid off 1 Jan. 1817 – and 24 Nov. 1819, to the Wye 26, Capts. Geo. Wickens Willes and Peter Fisher. Since he left the latter vessel he has not been afloat. He was admitted to the out-pension of Greenwich Hospital 1 May, 1848.
Lieut. Shebbeare was left a widower 16 April, 1844. Agent – John Chippendale.
SHED. (Commander, 1814. f-p., 19; h-p., 35.)
Robert Shed was born 21 Oct. 1773.
This officer entered the Navy, 4 July, 1793, as Midshipman, on board the Invincible 74, Capt. Hon. Thos. Pakenham, with whom, after having fought in Lord Howe’s action 1 June, 1794, he removed, 7 Oct. 1795, to the Juste 80. After serving for nearly two years and a half on the coast of Ireland and in the Channel in the Glenmore 44, Capt. Geo. Duff, Robust 74, Capt. Geo. Countess, and Royal George 100, flag-ship of Lord Bridport, he was nominated, 27 Oct. 1799, Acting-Lieutenant of the Ramillies 74, Capt. Rich. Grindall. He was confirmed, 18 Dec. following, into the Adventure 44, Capts. Robt. Mansel and Chas. Carter, stationed in the Mediterranean; and was subsequently appointed – 6 March, 1801, to the Gannet 16, Capt. Isaac Cotgrave, under whom, in the following Aug., he took part, and was wounded in the leg, in Lord Nelson’s attack upon the Boulogne flotilla – 12 July, 1803 (after 14 months of half-pay), to the Princess Royal 98, Capts. Jas. Vashon and Robt. Carthew Reynolds, attached to the force in the Channel 16 April, 1807 (for 19 months), as Senior, to the Her-
