A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Smith, Frederick Abraham

1947688A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Smith, Frederick AbrahamWilliam Richard O'Byrne

SMITH. (Lieutenant, 1820. f-p., 13; h-p., 23.)

Frederick Abraham Smith, born 7 Dec. 1797, is second son of the Rev. Geo. Smith, Vicar of Ottery St. Mary, Devon, and a Magistrate for that co. This officer entered the Navy, 8 Feb. 1811, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Edinburgh 74, Capt. Robt. Rolles, with whom he continued to serve in the Mediterranean in the Union 98, the last four months in the capacity of Midshipman, until transferred, in July, 1814, to the Valiant 74, Capt. Zachary Mudge. While attached to the Edinburgh he assisted in cutting out some vessels near Toulon, took part in the siege of Tarragona, and witnessed the fall of Genoa. On his return in the Valiant from a visit to the coast of Brazil, he joined, in July, 1815, the Albion 74, Capts. Philip Somerville and Jas. Walker, stationed in the Channel; and next, in the course of the same and of the following year, the St. George 98, Impregnable 104, Berwick 74, and Impregnable again, flag-ships of Sir John Thos. Duckworth and Lord Exmouth at Plymouth, where he was for some time employed in the Quail Revenue-tender. After serving for nearly 18 months on the coast of Africa as Master’s Mate in the Tartar 42, bearing the broad pendant of Sir Geo. Ralph Collier, he was there, 18 Jan. 1820, nominated Acting-Lieutenant of the Myrmidon 20, Capt. Henry John Leeke, to which ship he was confirmed 10 April ensuing. In the Tartar he aided in taking several slave-vessels; and while in command of the Augusta, a tender belonging to the Myrmidon, he effected other captures. In an attack made by him, 20 May, 1820, on some slave-towns in the Rio Pongo, Mr. Smith had the misfortune to lose the sight of an eye. He was in consequence reduced, in Feb. 1821, to the necessity of invaliding. His next appointments were, 30 April, 1827, and 17 Sept. 1829, to the Britannia 120, flagship of the Earl of Northesk, and Kent 78, Capt. John Ferris Devonshire, both on the Plymouth station. Severe and repeated inflammation of the eye obliged him a second time, in 1830, to seek half-pay; and he has not been since afloat. He was granted, 5 Jan. 1831, a pension of 91l. 5s. per annum.

He married, 16 June, 1840, Dorothea Louisa, widow of Wm. Carew Hunt, Esq.