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EDWARDS.

Mingaye, and, from June, 1828, until Oct. 1833, served in the Victory 104, flag-ship at Portsmouth of Sir Robt. Stopford, the Spartiate 76, and Ocean 80, commanded on the Mediterranean station by Capts. Frederic Warren and Patk. Campbell, and the Stag 46, Capt. Nich. Lockyer, employed in the North Sea and off Lisbon. Obtaining his commission 10 Jan. 1837, he joined, in the course, we believe, of the following month, the Samarang 28, Capt. Wm. Broughton, on the South American station, whence, however, his health obliged him to return in Feb. 1838. On 30 March, 1839, the subject of this sketch was next appointed to the Powerful 84, Capt. Chas. Napier, under whom he served throughout the various operations on the coast of Syria in 1840, including the bombardment of St. Jean d’Acre. He invalided from cataract in Nov. of the latter year; and has not since been afloat.

Lieut. Edwards married, in 1842, Fanny, grand-daughter of the late Rev. John Simons, LL.B., rector of Paul’s Cray, co. Kent.



EDWARDS. (Captain, 1826. f-p., 16; h-p., 35.)

Henry Edwards entered the Navy, 19 Nov. 1796, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Impétueux 78, Capt. John Willet Payne, on the Home station, where, and in the West Indies, he afterwards served, as Midshipman, in the Beaulieu 40 and Terrible 74, both commanded by Capt. Fras. Fayerman, Theseus 74, flag-ship of Lord Badstock, Topaze 38, Capt. Robt. Honyman, and Leviathan 74, bearing the flag of Sir John Thos. Duckworth. Being promoted to a Lieutenancy, 2 Nov. 1802, in the Ganges 74, Capt. Geo. M‘Kinley, Mr. Edwards, after serving for some time at Portsmouth and in the North Sea on board the Courageux 74, flag-ship of Rear-Admiral Jas. Rich. Dacres, and Africaine 38, Capt. Thos. Manby, returned to the West Indies; on which station he appears to have been appointed – 21 Aug. 1805, to the Atlas 74, Capt. Sam. Pym, under whom he bore a part in the action off St. Domingo, 6 Feb. 1806 – 12 March and 7 Aug. in the latter year, to the Success 32, and Hebe 38, Capts. John Ayscough, Micajah Malbon, and John Fyffe – and, 30 Sept. 1809, to the command of the Haddock schooner, in which vessel he was unfortunately captured on his passage home with despatches 12 Nov. following. On regaining his liberty, he further served for a few months, in 1810-11, on board the Hibernia 120, and Centaur 74, both commanded by Capt. John Chambers White, and, for a short period in 1813, on board the Benbow 74, Capt. Rich. Harrison Pearson, in the Mediterranean and river Thames. On 29 June in the last-mentioned year he was awarded a Commander’s commission; and, on 25 Aug. 1825, he was appointed to the Doterel 18. Since his advancement to his present rank, which took place while he was on the Halifax station, 2 Aug. 1826, Capt. Edwards has been on half-pay. Agents – Messrs. Halford and Co.



EDWARDS. (Commander, 1841.)

Nathaniel Frederick Edwards is son of the late John Edwards, Esq., of Worting House, Hants. This officer entered the Navy 13 Feb. 1813; passed his examination in 1819; and, after acting in the Bustard and Pylades, was officially promoted to a Lieutenancy, 12 Feb. 1827, in the Beaver 10, Capt. Joseph O’Brien, on the Jamaica station, he was subsequently appointed – 4 Feb. 1830, and 28 March, 1832, as First, to the Meteor surveying-vessel, Capt. Rich. Copeland, and Raleigh 18, Capt. Abraham Mills Hawkins, employed in the Mediterranean – 25 Jan. 1834, for a short period, to the St. Vincent 120, Capt. Humphrey Fleming Senhouse, on the same station – 31 March, 5 May, and 15 Nov. 1836, to the Howe 120, Bellerophon 74, and Thunderer 84, Capts. Alex. Ellice, Sam. Jackson, and Wm. Furlong Wise – Jan. 1839, to the Powerful 84, Capt. Chas. Napier – and, 19 April, 1839, 1 Oct. 1840, and 1 Oct. 1841, to the Britannia 120, Queen 110, and St. Vincent 120, flag-ships at Portsmouth of Admirals Hon. Chas. Elphinstone Fleeming and Sir Edw. Codrington. Since the date of his last promotion, 23 Nov. 1841, Commander Edwards has been unemployed.

He married, 11 May, 1837, Mary, youngest daughter of the late W. Cotton, Esq., of Balham Hill, co. Surrey, by whom he has issue. Agents – Messrs. Stilwell.



EDWARDS. (Commander, 1828. f-p., 12; h-p., 34.)

Richard Edwards entered the Navy, 1 Feb. 1801, as a Supernumerary, on board the Royal William, Capt. Fras. Pickmore, bearing the flag at Spithead of Admiral Milbanke, but was discharged on 30 March following. In Sept. 18G5, he re-embarked, as Midshipman, on board the Majestic 74, Capt. Joseph Hanwell, in which ship and the Victory 100, bearing the flags in succession of Vice-Admirals Thos. Macnamara Russell and Sir Jas. Saumarez in the North Sea and Baltic, he continued to serve, until appointed Acting-Lieutenant, 6 May, 1812, of the Plover sloop, Capt. Colin Campbell. Being confirmed, 4 July following, into the Dictator 64, Capt. Jas. Pattison Stewart, Mr. Edwards, two days afterwards, was present, in company with the Calypso 18, Podargus 14, and Flamer gun-brig, and was particularly mentioned for his conduct, at the gallant capture and destruction, within the rocks of Mardoe, on the coast of Norway, of an entire Danish squadron, consisting of the Nayaden of 48 guns, the Laland, Samsoe, and Kiel sloops, and several gun-boats, after a long conflict which occasioned the Dictator a loss of 5 men killed and 24 wounded, and the enemy of 300 killed and wounded.[1] From 2 Feb. 1813, until 29 Aug. 1815, he next served in North America on board the Tenedos 38, Capt. Hyde Parker, under whom he appears to have witnessed the capture of the U.S. ship President. His subsequent appointments, we find, were – 23 Oct. 1823, to the Ocean 80, Capt. Lucius Ferdinand Hardyman, off Lisbon – and, 20 Dec. 1824, to the Superb 74, Capt. Sir Thos. Staines, at Jamaica. Since his attainment of his present rank, 26 Aug. 1828, Commander Edwards has not been afloat.

He married, in 1834, Emily, daughter of Wm. Taylor, Esq., of Parkfield House, Purbrook, by whom he has issue.



EDWARDS. (Lieut., 1814. f-p., 9; h-p., 32.)

Richard Venn Edwards entered the Navy, 8 Aug. 1806, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Canopus 84, Capt. Thos. Geo. Shortland, bearing the flag of Sir Thos. Louis, in which ship he witnessed the capture, 27 Sept. following, of Le Président, French frigate, of 44 guns and 330 men, and was present at the passage of the Dardanells in Feb. 1807. In Aug. ot the latter year, he removed, as Midshipman, to the Hind 28, Capt. Fras. Wm. Fane; and on afterwards accompanying that officer into the Cambrian 40, he warmly co-operated with the patriots on the coast of Catalonia. Mr. Edwards, who subsequently served in the Tigre 80, Capts. Benj. Hallowell and John Halliday, and Pomone 38, Capts. Fras. Wm. Fane and Philip Carteret, on the Mediterranean, Home, and Lisbon stations, was confirmed to a Lieutenancy, 15 Sept. 1814, in the Philomel 18, Capt. Jas. Hanway Plumridge. We also find him attached, for a few months in 1815, to the San Josef 110, flag-ship at Plymouth of Sir Rich. John Strachan; since Aug. in which year, however, he has been on half-pay.



EDWARDS. (Lieutenant, 1841)

Rowland Edwards, born in 1813, is third son of John Edwards, Esq., of the Hall, Great Ness, near Shrewsbury, a Magistrate and Deputy-Lieutenant for Shropshire, by Charlotte Margaret, daughter of the Rev. Geo. Martin, Vicar of Great Ness, by Lady Mary Murray, youngest daughter of John, third Duke of Atholl.

  1. Vide Gaz. 1812, p. 1362.