Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v1p2.djvu/416

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.
832
REAR-ADMIRALS OF THE BLUE.

wounded; among the latter was her commander, Captain G. Watson, who lost an arm and died soon after.

At the conclusion of the war with the American colonies, Mr. Sutton was appointed first Lieutenant of the Preston, a 50-gun ship, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Rowley, at Jamaica, from whence he was soon after compelled to return to England through ill-health. During the Spanish armament, we find him serving as signal officer of the Iphigenia frigate, one of the repeaters to the fleet then assembled under the orders of Lord Howe. In Jan. 1793, he joined the Culloden, 74, commanded by Sir Thomas Rich; and from that ship removed, Nov. 1794, into the Mars, another third rate, as first Lieutenant to the late Sir Charles Cotton.

The Mars was with Vice-Admiral Cornwallis when that officer effected the most masterly retreat, from an immensely superior French fleet, ever recorded in the annals of the British navy; and being the sternmost ship, sustained the brunt of the enemy’s attack, but fortunately had not a man killed, and only 12 wounded; this event occurred June 16, 1795[1].

In the month of Sept. following, Lieutenant Sutton was promoted, to the command of the Martin sloop of war; and in 1797, ordered to convey the Due d’Angouleme from Leith to Cuxhaven; immediately after the performance of which service, be was advanced to post rank, by commission dated June 27. He subsequently commanded for a short period the Monarch, 74, bearing the flag of Sir Richard Onslow, in the North Sea; and in 1799, became Flag-Captain to Sir Charles Cotton, with whom he continued to serve in different ships till the commencement of 1801. He was then appointed to the Alcmene, of 32 guns, and in that frigate assisted at the capture and destruction of the Danish line of defence before Copenhagen, on the memorable 2d April[2]. The Alcmene on that glorious occasion had 5 men killed and 14 wounded. Captain Sutton subsequently removed into the Amazon, 38, as successor to the gallant Riou, who had fallen in the battle. His next appointment was to the Victory, a

    whole 106 guns, and 527 men; and assisted at the capture and destruction of a convoy from Marseilles, consisting of eight vessels, mounting 162 guns, and manned with 890 men.

  1. See p. 354.
  2. See note *, at p. 365, et seq.