on the West India station, for the usual period of three years.
ALEXANDER DOBBS, Esq.
A Companion of the Most Honorable Military Order of the Bath.
[Post-Captain of 1819.]
Fourth son of the late Counsellor Francis Dobbs, who was a member of the Irish parliament.
This officer appears to have been born at Dublin, about the year 1784; and he entered the navy under the auspices of Vice-Admiral (afterwards Sir Robert) Kingsmill, as midshipman on board the Santa Margaritta frigate, Captain George Parker, in 1797. His first commission bears date Nov. 9, 1804 ; on which very day, being then a passenger in the Thetis, outward bound West-Indiaman, mounting 16 small guns, with a crew of 49 men and boys, he assisted in beating off le Buonaparte French brig-privateer, of 18 long 8-pounders and 170 men, of whom 20 were killed and 30 wounded. The Thetis’s loss amounted to only 2 slain and 11 wounded.[1]
On the day after this action, Mr. Dobbs arrived at Barbadoes, and was immediately appointed by Sir Samuel Hood to the Epervier brig, stationed at the Leeward Islands, from whence he was soon obliged to return home in consequence of yellow fever. His subsequent appointments were to the Confiance 22, Topaze frigate, Northumberland 74, and Leviathan of similar force; the latter ship commanded by Captain Patrick Campbell, on the Mediterranean station.
On the 29th April, 1812, the boats of the Leviathan, under the direction of Lieutenant Dobbs, attacked several French vessels lying at Agaye, near Frejus; four merchantmen were brought out, and a privateer brig of 14 guns was set on fire, but not so effectually as to cause her destruction: in the performance of this service two men were killed and four wounded by the enemy’s fire from the shore. On the 10th of the following month. Lieutenant Dobbs assisted at the destruc-
- ↑ Le Buonaparte was taken two days afterwards by the Cyane sloop, Captain the Hon. George Cadogan.
