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POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800.

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daughter of the Rev. Thomas Leigh, formerly Rector of Harpsden, or Harden, near Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire^[1].

He was born at Steventon, April 23, 1774; and admitted a student at the Royal Naval Academy, April 15, 1786. Whilst there, he applied so closely to his studies, and behaved in so exemplary a manner, as to obtain from the Lords of the Admiralty, (to whom his good conduct had been officially reported) a recommendation to the Hon. Commodore Cornwallis for promotion, as soon as his time should be completed.

Mr. Austen embarked as a Midshipman on board the Perseverance frigate, about the latter end of 1788; and served in that ship, the Crown 64, and Minerva of 38 guns, on the East India station, till Dec. 28, 1792, when he was advanced to the rank of Lieutenant. From that period we find him serving successively in the Dispatch armed brig; Minerva; Lark sloop; Andromeda of 32 guns; Prince George and Glory, second rates; Shannon, Triton, and Seahorse frigates; and London of 98 guns; under the respective commands of Captain John Whitby, Commodore Cornwallis, Captains Josias Rowley, Thomas Sotheby, William Taylor, James Bowen, Alexander Fraser, John Gore, Edward J. Foote, and J. Child Purvis^[2].

↑ Captain Austen is descended by his father’s side, from an old and respectable family long settled in Kent, at present represented by Thomas Austen, Esq., of Kippington, near Seven Oaks, late a Colonel in the army. His mother was a descendant from the noble family of Leigh, proprietors of Stoneleigh Abbey, Staffordshire.
↑ Mr. Austen was first Lieutenant of all the above vessels except the Minerva, Prince George, and Glory. The Lark formed part of the squadron sent to escort H.S.H. the Princess Caroline of Brunswick from Cuxhaven to England; she also assisted at the evacuation of Ostend and Nieuport by the British troops. The Andromeda was employed convoying the trade to and from Elsineur. The Prince George bore Rear-Admiral Christian’s flag, which was afterwards removed to the Glory, in consequence of the damages sustained by the former ship when attempting to clear the Channel, in Nov. 1795‡. The Triton, whose commander had been a Lieutenant of the Perseverance when Mr. Austen belonged to that ship, was concerned in the capture of five French privateers, and destroyed several of the enemy’s coasting vessels. The London formed part of the fleet under Earl St. Vincent, employed in the blockade of Cadiz.
‡ See p. 96, et seq.

[1] Captain Austen is descended by his father’s side, from an old and respectable family long settled in Kent, at present represented by Thomas Austen, Esq., of Kippington, near Seven Oaks, late a Colonel in the army. His mother was a descendant from the noble family of Leigh, proprietors of Stoneleigh Abbey, Staffordshire.

[2] Mr. Austen was first Lieutenant of all the above vessels except the Minerva, Prince George, and Glory. The Lark formed part of the squadron sent to escort H.S.H. the Princess Caroline of Brunswick from Cuxhaven to England; she also assisted at the evacuation of Ostend and Nieuport by the British troops. The Andromeda was employed convoying the trade to and from Elsineur. The Prince George bore Rear-Admiral Christian’s flag, which was afterwards removed to the Glory, in consequence of the damages sustained by the former ship when attempting to clear the Channel, in Nov. 1795‡. The Triton, whose commander had been a Lieutenant of the Perseverance when Mr. Austen belonged to that ship, was concerned in the capture of five French privateers, and destroyed several of the enemy’s coasting vessels. The London formed part of the fleet under Earl St. Vincent, employed in the blockade of Cadiz.
‡ See p. 96, et seq.

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