Page:A Naval Biographical Dictionary.djvu/1063

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SELWYN—SENHOUSE.
1049

Adderley, on the Mediterranean station – and 25 Aug. 1815, nearly 11 months after he had left the Swiftsure, to the command of the Swan 16, in the Downs. During his servitude in the Alexandria he was sent in command of two gun-boats up the Dutch rivers to protect the trade then carrying on between Heligoland and Holland; and while so employed he contrived to capture two of the enemy’s gun-vessels. In the Castor, of which frigate he became First-Lieutenant, he contributed to the capture, in April, 1809, of the French 74-gun ship D’Haupoult; and in the Horatio he was present, 21 Feb. 1810, at the surrender, after a long chase and a running fight of one hour, of La Nécessité, pierced for 40 guns but not mounting more than 28, with a complement on board of 186 men, laden with naval stores and provisions, from Brest bound to the Isle of France. While attached to the Swiftsure he distinguished himself in numerous boat affairs, and on one occasion in particular, 26 Nov. 1813, when with four boats containing 58 men, he boarded and carried, off Cape Housse, in the island of Corsica, Le Charlemagne privateer, of 8 guns, pierced for 16, and 93 men, a vessel, whose fierce resistance occasioned the British a loss, out of 58 men, of 5 killed and 15 wounded.[1] Referring to this exploit. Sir Edw. Pellew, the Commander-in-Chief, thus expresses himself in a letter to Capt. Littlehales : “I am happy to inform you that your friend Mr. Smith has signalized himself in boarding a privateer, in a manner much above the common practice. His Captain and those who were with him gave him the loudest praise. Indeed it was a gallant and great achievement, and, what was far more honourable in him, he interceded for mercy with his companions, who were irritated at their loss and the obstinate resistance they had met with. I shall send my mite of praise with Capt. Dickson’s to their Lordships, and earnestly hope it will lead to his promotion.” This, however, it did not do, nor did Lieut. Smith receive any other reward for his gallantry than an assurance of their Lordships’ approbation and an expression of their sincere concern at the loss experienced on the occasion. He resigned command of the Swan on account of family affairs 27 June, 1817; and not having been further employed, accepted, 24 July, 1844, the rank of Commander on the Retired List. Agents – Goode and Lawrence.



SELWYN. (Commander, 1847.)

Frederick Leopold Augustus Selwyn is son (with Lieut. Jasper Henry Selwyn, R.N.) of the Rev. Townshend Selwyn, Canon of Gloucester, by Charlotte Sophia, daughter of Lord Geo. Murray, Bishop of St. David’s, sister of George Bishop of Rochester, and grand-daughter of John third Duke of Atholl.

This officer entered the Navy 9 Oct. 1829; passed his examination 31 Jan. 1837; served at Sheerness and in the Mediterranean as Mate in the Camperdown 104, flag-ship of Sir Henry Digby, and Devastation steamer, Capt. Hastings Reginald Henry; and obtained his first commission 1 Dec. 1843. His succeeding appointments were – 30 May, 1844, to the Albion 90, Capt. Nicholas Lockyer, on the Home station – 31 Dec. following, to the Actaeon 26, Capt. Geo. Mansel, of which vessel, attached to the force on the coast of Africa, he became First Lieutenant – and, 15 June, 1846, to the acting-command of the Star 6, also on the coast of Africa. On the paying off that sloop, he was confirmed in his present rank by a commission bearing date 10 May, 1847. Since 23 Aug. 1848, he has again been in command of her on the same station as before. Agents – Messrs. Stilwell.



SELWYN. (Lieutenant, 1841.)

Jasper Henry Selwyn is brother of Commander F. L. A. Selwyn, R.N.

This officer entered the Navy 23 Jan. 1834; passed his examination 31 Dec. 1840; and for his conduct as Mate of the Sulphur 8, Capt. Edw. Belcher, during the operations on the coast of China, particularly at the capture of Canton,[2] was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant 8 Oct. 1841. From 1 May, 1843, until paid off in 1847, he served in the Mediterranean on board the Tyne 26, Capt. Wm. Nugent Glascock; and since 22 June, 1848, he has been employed in the Myrmidon steam-vessel of 150 horse-power, tender to the Ganges 84, Capt. Henry Smith, lying at Sheerness. Agents – Messrs. Stilwell.



SENHOUSE. (Commander, 1843. f-p., 13; h-p., 34.)

Edward Hooper Senhouse is fifth son of Lieut. Wm. Senhouse, R.N., Surveyor-General of Barbadoes and the Leeward Islands, who died in 1800, by Elizabeth, daughter of Samson Wood, Esq., of Barbadoes. Speaker of the House of Assembly; and brother of Commander Wm. Wood Senhouse, R.N., who died in 1800, of the late gallant Capt. Sir Humphrey Fleming Senhouse, R.N., Kt., K.C.H.,[3] and of Lieut. Geo. Septimus Senhouse, R.N., who died in 1808. His uncle, Sir Joseph Senhouse, Kt., was an officer in the Hon.E.I.Co.’s naval service: his grandfather, Humphrey Senhouse, Esq., of Netherhall, co. Cumberland (married to Mary, daughter and co-heir of Sir Geo. Fleming, Bart., of Rydal, Bishop of Carlisle), founded the present flourishing town of Maryport.

This officer entered the Navy, 28 Jan. 1800, as Midshipman, on board the Prince of Wales 98, Capt. Adrian Renou, bearing the flag in the West Indies of Lord Hugh Seymour, whom he followed, in the ensuing spring, into the Sans Pareil 80. He continued employed on the same station in the Carnatic 74, Capt. Chas. Vinicombe Penrose, until June, 1802; and he next – deducting a few months passed, between March and August, 1806, in the Malabar 74, Capt. Geo. Scott – served (from 28 Jan. 1803 until made Lieutenant 23 May, 1807, into the Hero 74, Capt. John Poo Beresford) in the Fortunée 36, Capt. Henry Yansittart, in the North Sea, at Jamaica, and in the Channel. His subsequent appointments were – 16 June, 1807, to the Clio brig, Capt. Thos. Folliott Baugh, on the Leith station – 29 June, 1809, to the command, during the siege of Flushing, of gun-boat No. 13 – 3 Nov. following to the Peacock 18, Capt. Thos. Ladd Peake, at Plymouth – 25 Dec. 1811, 25 Nov. 1812, and 18 Jan. 1813, to the Dragon 74, Tribune 36, and Grampus 50, flag-ships of Sir Francis Laforey in the West Indies – 24 May, 1813, to the acting-command there of the Heron 16 – 4 July ensuing again to the Grampus – and, 1 Aug. in the same year, to the command of the Liberty 14, also on the West India station, whence, in June, 1814, he returned to England. He attained his present rank 20 Jan. 1843.

  1. Vide Gaz. 1814, p. 84.
  2. Vide Gaz. 1841, p. 2504.
  3. Sir Humphrey Fleming Senhouse, while yet a Midshipman, was made the bearer, by Lord Hugh Seymour, of his despatches to the Admiralty, announcing the capture of Surinam in 1799. He obtained his first commission 9 April, 1802; and after having assisted, and displayed much ability, at the debarkation of the troops during the attack upon Martinique, was promoted to the rank of Commander 2 June, 1809. During the war with the United States he served with great activity, and on 29 July, 1813, being in command of the Martin of 18 guns, he defended that sloop, aground in Delaware Bay, in a very gallant manner against a powerful flotilla, consisting of eight gun-boats and two block vessels. He made prize, in the same vessel, of the Snap-dragon privateer, of 6 guns and 80 men, assisted in taking possession of Moose Island, in Passamaquoddy Bay, and was ultimately sent home with despatches from Sir Alexander Cochrane, announcing the successful result of an expedition against Castine, in the province of Maine. His promotion to Post-rank took place 12 Oct. 1814. From 25 Feb. 1831 until 1834 he served in the St. Vincent 120, the chief part of the time as Flag-Captain to Vice-Admiral Hon. Sir Hen. Hotham, K.C.B., G.C.M.G., Commander-in-Chief in the Mediterranean; and from 9 April, 1839, until the date of his death, 14 June, 1841, he commanded the Blenheim 72, and distinguished himself by the high importance of his services during the war in China. He was nominated a K.C.H. 13 April, 1832, and invested with the honour of Knighthood 5 June, 1834.