Page:A Naval Biographical Dictionary.djvu/701

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
LYNE—LYON—LYONS.
687

quently appointed – 2 July, 1825, to the Despatch sloop, Capt. Robt. White Parsons – 14 Jan. 1826, to the Maidstone 42, bearing the broad pendant of Commodore Chas. Bullen on the coast of Africa – for a short time in the spring of 1830, to the post of Flag-Lieutenant to the Earl of Northesk at Plymouth – 20 May, 1831, to the Tweed 20, Capt. Allan Bertram, in the West Indies – 22 Feb. 1832, as First-Lieutenant, to the Gannet 18, Capt. Mark Halpen, on the same station – and, 6 June, 1834, in a similar capacity (after several months of half-pay), to the Winchester 52, Capt. Edw. Sparshott, fitting at Chatham. He was superseded from the latter ship in the following July, and has since been on hallpay. Agent – J. Hinxman.



LYNE. (Retired Captain, 1840. f-p., 16; h-p., 45.)

Thomas Lyne was born 17 Nov. 1768, at Ringwood.

This officer entered the Navy, 8 April, 1786, on board the Thisbe 28, Capts. Isaac Coffin and Sam. Hood, stationed at Halifax; where, from 1789 until 1791, he served, as Midshipman, in the Dido 28, Capt. Edw. Buller. After an attachment for short periods to various ships, he sailed for the Mediterranean in the Alcide 74, Capt. Robt. Linzee, and was present at the occupation of Toulon; while in command of a gun-boat at which place he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant 12 Oct. 1793. His succeeding appointments were – 29 Dec. in the latter year, for seven months, to the Gorgon, Capt. Jas. Wallis, also in the Mediterranean – 16 Dec. 1794, to the Culloden 74, Capt. Thos. Troubridge, under whom he bore a part in the actions of 13 July, 1795, and 14 Feb. 1797, off the Hyeres islands and Cape St. Vincent – and, 15 March, 1797, as Senior, to the Argo 44, Capt. Jas. Bowen. In Nov. 1798 he was present in the latter ship at the reduction of Minorca; and on 6 Feb. 1799 he assisted in taking the Spanish frigate Santa Teresa of 42 guns and 530 men, including 250 soldiers. During the chase which preceded the surrender of the enemy Mr. Lyne, as officially declared by his Captain, displayed great merit in keeping sight, and observing the different shifts, of the enemy, whereby great advantage accrued to the Argo. Much commendation was also bestowed on his professional skill and great exertions, after possession had been taken of the prize, in saving the tottering mast from tumbling overboard. The Argo, it appears, subsequently brought Earl St. Vincent home from the Mediterranean, conveyed nine homeward-bound Indiamen from St. Helena, and was for some time employed on the coast of Africa. Her First-Lieutenant attained the rank of Commander 29 April, 1802; and accepted that of Captain, on the Retired List, 10 Sept. 1840.



LYON. (Lieut., 1814. f-p., 20; h-p., 22.)

Francis Lyon was born 24 Aug. 1794. This officer entered the Navy, 1 July, 1805, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Romulus frigate, armée en flûte, Capt. Thos. Burton, stationed in the Channel; and from Aug. 1806, until wrecked on Sable Island 3 Aug. 1812, was employed in the West Indies and on the coast of America, nearly the whole time as Midshipman, in the Emulous 18, Capts. Gustavus Stupart and Wm. Howe Mulcaster. He assisted, during that period, in beating off, when in the neighbourhood of Puerto Rico, 9 Nov. 1809, a French frigate mounting 32 guns, after an action, fought within pistol-shot, of an hour and 40 minutes, in which the Emulous was cut to pieces, and sustained a loss of 10 killed and 20 wounded; and, on 26 Aug. 1811, and 30 July, 1812, he contributed to the capture of L’Adèle French letter-of-marque, adon with cotton, and the Gossamer American privateer of 14 guns and 100 men. During the whole term of Capt. Mulcaster’s command, a period of nearly two years, he was in constant charge of a watch, and was intrusted with the conduct into port of every prize of the least value. On the occurrence of the catastrophe above alluded to, he was turned over with his Captain to the Nautilus brig, in which vessel, it appears, he cruized with great activity and success. In April 1813, being then Master’s Mate, although performing the duties of Lieutenant, of the Statira 38, Capt. Hassard Stackpoole, we find him commanding one of the boats of a squadron, containing 105 men, under the orders of Lieut. Jas. Polkinghorne, at the dashing capture, 15 miles up the Rappahannock river, of four schooners, carrying in the whole 31 guns and 219 men, an exploit which was productive of a loss to the British of 2 killed and 11 wounded, and to the enemy of 6 killed and 10 wounded. After serving for a few months in the St. Domingo 74, flag-ship of Sir John Borlase Warren, and Prince Regent 56, bearing the broad pendant of Sir Jas. Lucas Yeo on Lake Ontario, he was, in June, 1814, nominated, at the earnest recommendation of his friend Capt. Mulcaster, Acting-Lieutenant of the Princess Charlotte 42, commanded at first by that gallant officer, and next by Capts. Edw. Collier and Rich. O’Conor, also on the Canadian station; where, being confirmed by a commission dated 18 of the following Nov., he continued employed, in the same ship and the Psyche 32, Capt. Peter Fisher (participating in the mean while in much valuable and important service), until ordered home, in July, 1815, in the Calliope 10, Capt. Alex. Maconochie. From the latter date, unable to procure an appointment, Lieut. Lyon remained on half-pay until 1837; since 8 Feb. in which year he has been in command of a station in the Coast Guard.

He married, 17 Feb. 1817, Miss Eliza Fawcett, of Portarlington, and by that lady has issue five children.



LYON. (Lieutenant, 1846.)

Henry Thomas Lyon, born 28 Oct. 1825, is second son of Thomas Lyon, Esq., of Appleton Hall, co. Chester, a Magistrate and Deputy-Lieutenant for cos. Lancaster and Chester, by Eliza, youngest daughter of Geo. Clayton,[1] Esq., of Lostock Hall, Lancashire. One of his uncles, John Lyon, also in the R.N., died in 1821, at the Cape of Good Hope, aged 24.

This officer passed his examination 9 June, 1845; was appointed Mate, 19 Feb. 1846, of the Excellent gunnery-ship at Portsmouth, Capt. Henry Ducie Chads; attained his present rank 29 June, 1846; and, since 6 of the following Aug., has been serving on board the Columbine 16, Capts. Jas. Rich. Booth and Chas. Conrad Grey, now on the East India station.



LYONS, Bart., G.C.B., K.C.H., K.S.L., K.C.R.G., (Captain, 1814. f-p., 19; h-p., 27.)

Sir Edmund Lyons, born 21 Nov. 1790, is second surviving son of the late John Lyons, Esq., of Antigua, and of St. Austen’s House, Lymington, Hants, by Catherine, daughter of Joseph Walrond, Esq., of Mountrath, co. Devon, and brother of Capt. John Lyons, R.N.

This officer entered the Navy, in June, 1801, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Royal Charlotte yacht, Capt. Sir Harry Burrard Neale. In Jan. 1802 he removed to the Maidstone frigate, Capt. Rich. Hussey Moubray, with whom, in Aug. 1803, he was transferred to the Active 38. After sharing in much service on the Mediterranean station, and enacting a Midshipman’s part in Sir John Duckworth’s expedition to the Dardanells, where he assisted in demolishing the formidable redoubt on Point Pesquies, he returned to England in 1807 on board the Bergère sloop, Capt. G. B. Winyates. Sailing towards the close of the same year for the East Indies in the Monmouth 64, Capt. Edw. Durnford King, he was there, in June, 1808, three months after he had joined the Russell 74, flag-ship of Rear-Admiral Wm. O’Brien Drury, appointed Acting-

  1. By Dorothea, sister of Admiral the first Lord Gardner, and widow of Robert Barrie, Esq., by whom she was mother of Rear-Admiral the late Sir Robert Barrie, K.C.B., K.C.H.