Our officer has never, we believe, hoisted his flag. His commission as Vice-Admiral bears date Aug. 12, 1819.
Residence.– Shoarne, near Rochester, Kent.
FRANK SOTHERON, Esq
Vice-Admiral of the White; and Member of Parliament for Nottinghamshire.
This officer is the third and youngest son of the late William Sotheron, of Darrington, near Pontefract, co. York, Esq. He was born in 1765, and entered the naval service in 1776, as a Midshipman on board the Bienfaisant, of 64 guns, commanded by the late Admiral M‘Bride, under the auspices of which gallant officer, he completed the first six years of active duty. Being lent for awhile to the Arethusa frigate, he bore a part in the well-fought battle between that ship and la Belle Poule, June 17, 1778[1]; and on his return to the Bienfaisant, was in the action between Keppel and d’Orvilliers, off Ushant[2]. He was also present at the capture of the Caraccas convoy, the defeat of Don Juan de Langara, and the relief of Gibraltar by the fleet under Sir George B. Rodney,
- ↑ See p. 195, et seq.
- ↑ The Arethusa, Captain Samuel Marshall, was attached to the Channel fleet, commanded by the Hon. Admiral Keppel, who on the above-mentioned day, being off the Lizard, discovered and pursued four French men of war. In the evening the Milford frigate came up with, and detained the Licorne, of 32 guns and 230 men. The Arethusa, and Alert cutter, chaced the other vessels out of sight of the fleet. At night Captain Marshall arrived up with la Belle Poule, and informed her commander, that his orders were to conduct him to the British Admiral; with which the Frenchman refused to comply, and a desperate engagement ensued, and was continued with great obstinacy for two hours. By this time the combatants had approached close to the French coast, from whence a number of boats came out and towed la Belle Poule into a place of safety. The Arethusa’s main-mast fell over the side, and she was otherwise so disabled, that it was with the utmost difficulty she could clear the land. Her loss amounted to 8 men killed and 36 wounded. By the French accounts her opponent had 40 slain and 57 wounded. The Alert came up with a schooner mounting 14 guns, which she captured after a smart action. The Pallas of 32 guns, was taken on the 18th by the Foudroyant, Courageux, and Robust.
