Page:A Naval Biographical Dictionary.djvu/282

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268

DAVIES.

DAVIES. (Lieut., 1815. f-p., 19; h-p., 24.)

John Davies entered the Navy, 9 Nov. 1804, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Thisbe 28, armée en flûte Capt. Lewis Shepheard, in which vessel he attained the rating of Midshipman 8 March, 1806, and took out Lieut.-Gen. Whitelocke to the Rio de la Plata, early in 1807. From the following Dec. until Nov. 1812, he next served with Capts. Alex. Wibnot Schomberg and Thos. Brown, latterly as Master’s Mate, in the Loire 38, which ship, on 5 Jan. 1809, captured the Hébé, French corvette of 20 guns, and afterwards assisted at the reduction of Martinique and Guadeloupe. Until promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, 7 March, 1815, Mr. Davies appears to have been further employed, on the Mediterranean and Home stations, in the Barfleur 98, Capts. Sir Edw. Berry and John Maitland, and Royal Sovereign yacht, Capt. Sir E. Berry. He subsequently obtained an appointment in the Coast Guard, 17 April, 1838; and removed to the command, 30 April, 1839, of the Wickham, Revenue cutter. He returned to the Coast Guard, 15 Oct. 1841; and since 27 Nov. 1844, has been employed, as Admiralty Agent, in a contract mail steam-vessel.



DAVIES. (Retired Commander, 1845. f-p., 14; h-p., 34.)

John George Davies entered the Navy, 28 June, 1799, as Midshipman, on board, the Urchin gun-vessel, Lieut.-Commander Wm. Davies, at Gibraltar; served, from Aug. following until May, 1803, in L’Espoir 14, Capt. Jas. Sanders, and Hector 74, Capts. John Elphinstone and Wm. Skipsey, on the Mediterranean station; and subsequently joined the Prince of Wales 98, bearing the flag in the Channel of Sir Robt. Calder, and the Courageux 74, Capts. Thos. Bertie, Chas. Boyles, and Rich. Lee. After participating with the latter officer in Sir Rich. Strachan’s action, 4 Nov. 1805, he became attached for some months to the Royal William, flag-ship of Admiral Geo. Montagu, at Portsmouth, where, on 16 June, 1807, he was appointed Sub-Lieutenant of the Dapper gun-vessel. On attaining the full rank of Lieutenant in the Thrash, Capt. Chas. Webb, 7 July, 1808, Mr. Davies paid a short visit to the West Indies, and on his return home in the following Nov. he was placed on half-pay. His subsequent appointments appear to have been – in Aug. 1810, to the Princess of Orange 74, flag-ship in the Downs of Vice-Admiral Campbell – Jan. 1811, to the Freija 36, Capts. Colin Campbell and Wm. Scott, employed in the Mediterranean and off Lisbon – 21 Oct. 1812, to the Derwent 18, Capt. Geo. Manners Sutton, stationed ofiF the north coast of Spain – and 28 Oct. 1814, to the Amaranthe sloop, Capt. Rich. Augustus Yates, lying at Portsmouth. He returned to half-pay on 26 of the following month; and accepted the rank he now holds July, 1845.



DAVIES. (Retired Commander, 1843. f-p., 10; h-p., 43.)

Richard Longfield Davies was born 28 Nov. 1775, in the county of Cork, and died 15 May, 1846. He was the 17th child of a late Clergyman of the Established Church.

This officer entered the Navy, 9 April, 1793, as A.B., on board the Medusa 50, Capt. Jas. Norman; and on subsequently removing, as Midshipman, to the Ceres 32, Capt. Rich. Incledon, assisted at the reduction of the French West India islands, in 1794. Under the same officer, in the Vengeance, he next officiated at the storming of Fleur d’Epée and Pointe-à-Pitre, in the island of Guadeloupe; after which he rejoined Capt. Norman, as Master’s Mate, in the Medusa, and was eventually present in a similar capacity on board the Namur 90, Capt. Jas. Hawkins Whitshed, in Sir John Jervis’ action, 14 Feb. 1797. In Sept. following, he removed from the Ville de Paris 110, flag-ship of Earl St. Vincent, to an Acting-Lieutenancy in the Alexander 74, Capt. Alex. Ball; and on next joining the Majestic 74, Capts. Geo. Blagden Westcott and Robt. Cuthbert, he filled the same post at the battle of the Nile, 1 Aug. 1798. On that occasion Mr. Davies commanded the boarders and firemen, and for his general exertions was publicly thanked by his Captain. Being confirmed; after many other active services, particularly on the Neapolitan coast, by commission dated 8 June, 1799, he was subsequently appointed – 27 Dec. 1799, to the Active 38, Capt. Chas. Sydney Davers, in the Channel – in 1801-2, to the Shark 16, commanded by Capt. Jas.Carthew and for some time by himself, Sans Pareil 80, flagship of Admiral Rich. Montagu, and Syren 32, Capt. John Wentworth Loring, on the Jamaica station – and, 21 Feb. 1803, to the Aurora 28, Capt. Micajah Malton. In command at first of the boats belonging to the latter frigate, manned with only 27 men, and then in a tender, we find him taking successively possession of the islands St. Pierre and Miquelon, at the former of which places, after destroying all the guns and ammunition, he kept 140 prisoners in check for 24 hours, until he was relieved by the arrival of the ship.[1] The subject of this sketch, who was placed on half-pay 25 Dec. 1803, became a Retired Commander on the Junior list 1 Dec. 1830; and on the Senior, 28 July, 1843.

He married, 29 Dec. 1803, a daughter of the Rev. John Marshall, Rector of Orsett, and Chaplain to King George IV.; and has left issue four children. Agents – Messrs. Halford and Co.



DAVIES. (Lieutenant, 1824.)

Thomas Davies (a) entered the Nary 22 March, 1808; obtained a commission 14 Oct. 1824; was afterwards employed on the Coast Blockade, as Supernumerary-Lieutenant of the Ramillies 74, Capt. Hugh Pigot, from 10 April, 1826, until 1829; and since the latter date has been on half-pay. Agents – Messrs. Stilwell.



DAVIES. (Lieutenant, 1844.)

Thomas Davies (b) entered the Navy 13 Oct. 1829; passed his examination 16 July, 1836; and from 1841, until promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, 8 Feb. 1844, served, chiefly on the South American station, as Mate of the Ardent steam-vessel, Capt. John Russell, Curlew brig, Capt. John Foote, and Flamer steamer, Lieut.-Commander Chas. Jas. Postle. Since 12 March, 1844, this officer has been serving in the Pacific, Mediterranean, and Channel, as Lieutenant of the America 50., Capts. Hon. John Gordon and Sir Thos. Maitland.



DAVIES. (Lieut., 1815. f-p., 14; h-p., 27.)

William Rees Davies entered the Navy, 16 Aug. 1806, as a Supernumerary, on board the Mars 74, Capt. Robt. Dudley Oliver, attached to the fleet in the Channel. From Sept. following until Oct. 1809, he next officiated as Fst.-cl. Vol, and Midshipman of the Superb 74, Captain, afterwards Rear-Admiral, Sir Rich. Goodwin Keats; and during that period attended the expedition to Copenhagen, in Aug. and Sept. 1807, was present at the embarkation from Nyeborg of the Marquis de la Romana and his army, 11 Aug. 1808, and assisted at the bombardment of Flushing, in Aug. 1809. In Nov. following Mr. Davies joined the Jason 32, Capt. Hon. Jas. Wm. King, with whom he served off Newfoundland until transferred, in Aug. 1811, to La Minerve 38, Capt. Rich. Hawkins, on the West India station. He returned to England in May, 1814; and, while next attached to the Saracen sloop, Capt. Alex. Dixie, was promoted to his present rank 15 Feb. 1815. He subsequently, from 14 March, 1841, until the close of 1845, served in the Niagara 20, Montreal schooner, and Mohawk steamer, Capts. Williams Sandom and Wm. Newton Fowell, on the Canadian Lakes; where, since 5 Dec. 1846, he has been again employed with Capt. Fowell, on board the Cherokee steam-vessel.


  1. Vide Gaz. 1838, p. 1438.