GEORGE LANGFORD, Esq.
[Post-Captain of 1808.]
On the 2d Mar. 1808, Captain Langford, then commanding the Sappho brig, of 18 guns and 120 men, on the North Sea station, captured the Admiral Yawl, a Danish brig of 28 guns and 83 men, victualled and stored for five months. This vessel was of a very unusual construction, her guns being mounted on two decks, viz., 12 eighteen-pounder carronades on one, and 16 long sixes on the other. She maintained a clone action for half an hour, during which her second officer and 1 seaman were killed. The Sappho had only 2 men wounded, one; of whom was the pilot. Captain Langford was promoted to post rank immediately his official letter reached the Admiralty. His commission bears date Mar. 5, 1808.
WILLIAM HENRY DILLON, Esq.
[Post-Captain of 1808.]
Son of the late Sir John Talbot Dillon, of the distinguished family of that name in Ireland.
This officer entered the naval service early in 1790 under the auspices of Vice-Admiral Roddam, commander-in-chief at Portsmouth[1]; by whom he was placed on board the Saturn 74, for a passage to his proper ship, the Alcide, commanded by Sir Andrew Snape Douglas, and forming part of the grand fleet, then lying in Torbay, under the orders of Earl Howe. While belonging to the latter third rate, Mr. Dillon was occasionally lent to the Hebe, Niger, and other frigates employed as Channel cruisers[2].
In Dec. 1792, the subject of this memoir joined the Thetis 38, Captain Francis J. Hartwell; which ship was employed
