A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Curtis, Lucius
CURTIS, Bart., C.B. (Rear-Admiral, of the Red, 1838. f-p., 18; h-p., 34.)
Sir Lucius Curtis, born 3 June, 1786, is only surviving son of Admiral the late Sir Roger Curtis, Bart., G.C.B.,[1] by Sarah, youngest daughter and coheir of M. Brady, Esq., of Gatcombe House, co. Hants; and younger brother of Capt. Roger Curtis, R.N., who died in 1801.
This officer entered the Navy, 2 June, 1795, as Captain’s Servant, on board the Queen Charlotte 100, bearing his father’s flag in the Channel; served next for 18 months in the Royal William, flag-ship at Spithead of Sir Peter Parker; and from Aug. 1798, until Jan. 1803, was further employed, as Midshipman and Lieutenant (commission dated 11 Aug. 1801), in the Prince 98, and Lancaster 64, flag-ships of Sir R. Curtis, on the Home, Mediterranean, and Cape of Good Hope stations. On 24 Sept. 1803, he joined the Excellent 74, Capt. Frank Sotheron, and on his return to the Mediterranean was confirmed, 16 Nov. 1804, in the command of the Jalouse sloop, from which he removed, 19 June, 1805, to the Rose 18. Being promoted to Post-rank, 22 Jan. 1806, Capt. Curtis subsequently assumed command, 9 Jan. 1809, of the Magicienne 36, and, proceeding to the Cape, assisted at the reduction of Isle Bourbon in July, 1810.[2] We then find him taking part in a variety of gallant but unfortunate operations which, by 28 Aug. following, terminated, after a loss to the Magicienne of 8 killed and 20 wounded, in the unavoidable self-destruction of that ship and the Sirius, the capture of the Nereide, and the surrender to a powerful French force of the Iphigenia, the last of a squadron of frigates, originally under the orders of Commodore Sam. Pym, at the entranoe of Port Sud-Est, Isle of France.[3] On his return to England, after suffering several months of cruel captivity, Capt. Curtis was successively appointed, 17 Jan. 1812, and 13 Feb. 1813, to the command of the Iphigenia 36, and Madagascar 38, from the latter of which frigates he invalided in June, 1814. He attained his present rank 28 June, 1838; and since 8 March, 1843, has been employed as Admiral-Superintendent at Malta, with his flag on board the Ceylon 2.
Sir Lucius Curtis was nominated a C.B. 4 June, 1815. He married, 1 June, 1811, Mary Figg, eldest daughter of Moses Greetham, Esq., of East Cosham, co. Hants, formerly Deputy Judge-Advocate of the Fleet, and by that lady, who died 30 May, 1841, had issue, with three daughters, four sons, of whom the two eldest, Roger and Roger Curtis, are in the R.N. Agents – Messrs. Halford and Co.
- ↑ This gallant officer, so well known to every reader of naval history, attained post-rank in 1777. For his distinguished conduct, when Capt. of the Brilliant frigate, at the Siege of Gibraltar, particularly at the destruction of the floating batteries on 13 Sept. 1783, he received the honour of knighthood; and for his subsequent heroism, as Lord Howe’s first Captain in the Queen Charlotte on the memorable 1 June, 1794, was rewarded with a baronetcy, and presented with a gold chain and medal. As a Rear and Vice-Admiral, Sir Roger afterwards held a command in the Channel Fleet) and from 1799 to 1808 was Commander-in-Chief at the Cape of Good Hope. He died a full Admiral of the Red, 14 Nov. 1816.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1810, p. 1681.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1810, p. 1978, and Gaz. 1811, p. 261.