1793; served as such on board Earl Howe’s flag-ship, the Queen Charlotte, in the battle of June 1, 1794; and soon after that glorious event obtained the rank of Commander in the Comet fire-vessel. His commission as Post-Captain bears date April 6, 1795. He afterwards commanded in succession the Babet, of 22 guns, and Druid frigate. The former was with Lord Bridport, when that officer encountered the enemy’s fleet off l’Orient; the latter assisted at the capture of a French frigate, armed en flute, on board of which were 400 hussars proceeding to join the rebels in Ireland, Jan. 7, 1797[1].
From this period we lose sight of Captain Codrington until the summer of 1804, when he joined the Argo, of 44 guns. From that ship he removed into the Orion, a third rate, in which he had the good fortune to be present at the memorable battle off Cape Trafalgar, and for his conduct on that occasion, was honored with a gold medal, and in common with the other officers of the fleet, received the thanks of both Houses of Parliament[2].
Towards the latter end of 1808, our officer was appointed to the Blake, a new 74; and in the ensuing year we find him serving under Sir Richard J. Strachan, in the expedition to the Scheldt. On passing the batteries of Flushing, Aug. 15, the Blake had 2 men killed and 9 wounded; her commander’s gallant behaviour was duly noticed in the official despatches relative to the reduction of that place.
In 1810, Captain Codrington was employed in the defence of Cadiz; he subsequently commanded a squadron stationed on the coast of Catalonia for the purpose of co-operating with the Spanish patriots, to whose cause he rendered very great assistance, by his active zeal, and the sound judgment with which he applied the force under his orders. He was appointed to a Colonelcy of Royal Marines, Dec. 4, 1813; advanced to the rank of Rear-Admiral, June 4, 1814; and from that period served as Captain of the Fleet on the American station under Sir Alexander Cochrane, whom he accompanied in the expeditions up the Chesapeake[3], and against New
- ↑ See p. 388.
- ↑ For an account of the battle of Trafalgar, see p. 202, et seq.
- ↑ See p. 524, et seq.
