ROYAL NAVAL BIOGRAPHY.
POST-CAPTAINS of 1809, continued.
CHARLES NAPIER, Esq.
A Companion of the Most Honorable Military Order of the Bath.
[Post-Captain of 1809.]
This officer was made a Lieutenant Nov. 30, 1805; and promoted to the rank of Commander Nov. 30, 1807. On the 17th July, 1808, we find him assisting in cutting out a Spanish merchant schooner, from under two batteries at the N.E. end of Porto Rico; which service was conducted by Lieutenant James Robertson, of the Fawn sloop[1], Captain Napier, then commanding the Pultusk brig, merely accompanying him in order to acquire a knowledge of the coast, and agreeing that whatever was done should be attributed to that gentleman. After capturing the schooner, they both landed, spiked the guns in one of the batteries, and rendered the carriages unserviceable.
Captain Napier was shortly afterwards appointed to the Recruit brig, of 18 guns; in which vessel he fought a smart action with the Diligente French corvette, of 22 guns and 140 men, Sept. 6, 1808. On this occasion, the Recruit had her main-mast shot away, many of her carronades dismounted, one man killed, and several persons, including her commander, wounded. The extent of the loss sustained by the enemy’s ship has not been made public, but we must suppose it to have been very heavy, to excuse her captain for having fled from the field of battle after he had so effectually crippled his antagonist. Her stern-boat, filled with small-arm men, was cut away by the Recruit’s last fire.
- ↑ Now Commander James R. Walker.
