A
BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY
of
ALL LIVING NAVAL OFFICERS.
ABBOTT – ABSOLON – ACHMUTY.
ABBOTT. (Commander, 1841. f-p., 21 ; h-p., 7.)
Jonas Archer Abbott is son of the late Alderman Abbott, of Dublin; and nephew, maternally, of Vice-Admiral of the Red Sir Edw. Griffith Colpoys, K.C.B., who died Commander-in-Chief on the North America and West India station, 11 Nov. 1832.
This officer entered the Navy, 2 March, 1819, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Newcastle 60, Capt. Arthur Fanshawe, bearing the flag of his uncle, the late Sir E. G. Colpoys, on the North America station, where he successively removed, as Midshipman, to the Niemen 28, Capt. Edw. Reynolds Sibly, and Bellette 18, Capt. Geo. Rich. Pechell. After an attachment of two years, in that capacity, to the Victory 104, flag-ship at Portsmouth of Sir Geo. Martin, and Blonde 46, Capt. Lord Byron, under whom he escorted from this country the remains of the late King and Queen of the Sandwich Islands, Mr. Abbott passed his examination in April, 1826; between which period and the date of his promotion to the rank of Lieutenant, 1 Oct. 1830, he further served, as Mate, on board the Melville 74, Capt. Henry Hill, guard-ship at Portsmouth, and Maidstone 42, bearing the broad pendant at the Cape of Good Hope of Commodore Wm. Skipsey, and afterwards commanded by Capt. Chas. Marsh Schomberg. His subsequent appointments were, on the North America and West India, Mediterranean, Lisbon, and Home stations – on the date of his promotion, as above, to the Ranger 28, Capt. Wm. Walpole – 28 Sept. 1831, to the Sparrowhawk 18, Capt. Thos. Maitland – for a short time in 1833, to the Winchester 52, Capt. Hon. Wm. Wellesley – 15 Oct. in the same year, to the Thunderer 84, Capt. Wm. Furlong Wise – 8 May, 1838, to the Trinculo 16, Capt. Henry Edw. Coffin – and, 7 Sept. 1841, to the Dido 18, Capt. Hon. Wm. Keppel. Since his advancement to his present rank, which took place on 23 Nov. in the latter year, Commander Abbott has been on half-pay.
He married, 20 Feb. 1844, Mary Ellis, eldest daughter of Commander Jas. Agnew Stevens, R.N. Agents – Messrs. Chard.
ABSOLON. (Lieut., 1810. f-p., 36; h-p., 8.)
William Absolon was born 17 July, 1789, at Yarmouth, co. Norfolk.
This officer entered the Navy, 26 Oct. 1803, as Ordinary, on board the Romulus 36, Capts. Woodley Losack and Thos. Burton, of which ship, stationed off Harwich, he soon became Master’s Mate. Removing, in Jan. 1805, to the Circe 32, commanded successively by Capts. Jonas Rose, Joseph Spear, and Hugh Pigot, he assisted at the reduction of the Danish West India islands in Dec. 1807, and was the first to hoist the British colours on the fort at the capture of Marie-galante, 2 March, 1808. On 26 Nov. in the latter year, Mr. Absolon was transferred with Capt. Pigot to the Latona 38; and in Feb. 1809, having chased the French frigate La Junon into the Saintes, was placed in command of the pinnace, with 10 men, for the purpose of reconnoitering the enemy. Finding it impossible, in fulfilment of his instructions, to avoid landing, he fell in, when on the point of re-embarking, with a strong body of militia, and after a sharp engagement, in which one man was killed, and a midshipman and three men wounded, was forced to surrender, and was sent a prisoner to Guadeloupe. In the ensuing May however, having been exchanged, he rejoined the Latona and on the occasion of the capture, on 18 June, of La Félicité French frigate, pierced for 42 guns, but laden with colonial produce, was made second in command of the prize. After a subsequent attachment of three months to the Thisbe 28, and Barfleur 98, flag-ships in the rivers Thames and Tagus of Hon. Sir Henry Edwin Stanhope and Hon. Geo. Cranfield Berkeley, he obtained an Acting-Lieutenancy, 5 Feb. 1810, in the Myrtle 24, Capt. Thos. Innes, to which vessel, commanded afterwards by Capts. Clement Sneyd and Henry Bourchier, he was confirmed by commission, dated 9 June in the same year. He continued to serve off the coast of Portugal, in the Myrtle, until Nov. 1813; and being then appointed under Capt. Bourchier to the First Lieutenancy of the Medina 20, sailed for Newfoundland, whence he returned in Jan. 1815. From 15 March, 1821, until the early part of 1845, he officiated as an officer of the Coast Guard. He has since been unemployed.
Lieut. Absolon married, first, in 1819, Anne Hansen, daughter of H. H. Dearsley, Esq., of Essex; and, secondly, 24 March, 1824, Isabella, daughter of P. Webster, Esq., of Craig, in the co. of Forfar, N.B., by whom he had issue seven children. He is again a widower.
ACHMUTY. (Lieut., 1819. f-p., 17; h-p., 20.)
Robert Ross Achmuty died 30 Dec. 1844. He was son of Robt. Achmuty, Esq., of Dublin; grandson of the late Thos. Achmuty, Esq., of Brianstown, co. Longford; and a near relative of Lieut.-General the gallant Sir Sam. Achmuty, G.C.B.
