Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Gibson, Francis

1183418Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 21 — Gibson, Francis1890Francis Watt

GIBSON, FRANCIS (1753–1805), miscellaneous writer, son of Joseph and Mary Gibson of Whitby, Yorkshire, was baptised at Whitby 16 Jan. 1753. He became a seaman, voyaged to North America, and afterwards, as master mariner in a ship of his father's, to the Baltic. In 1787 he was, on the recommendation of Lord Mulgrave, appointed to the collectorship of customs at Whitby, which office he held till his death, 24 July 1805. He was twice married, and had issue.

Gibson wrote: 1. ‘Sailing Directions for the Baltic,’ 1791. These are said to have been employed with advantage by the Copenhagen expedition of 1801 under Sir Hyde Parker and Nelson. 2. ‘Streanshall Abbey, or the Danish Invasion,’ Whitby, 1800. This is a play in five acts, dedicated to Lady Mulgrave. It was first performed at the Whitby Theatre 2 Dec. 1799. It went through two (probably limited) editions in the year of its publication. 3. ‘Memoirs of the Bastile,’ a translation of an account published under the sanction of the National Assembly of France, Whitby, 1802. 4. ‘Poetical Remains,’ Whitby, 1807.

[Life by W. Watkins, prefixed to Poetical Remains.]

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