of Milan, and were engaged under Goffredo di Bouglion in the holy wars.
Mr. D’Urban served the first three years of his naval life as a Midshipman on board the Sphinx of 24 guns, commanded by Captain, now Admiral Markham, on the Mediterranean station; and completed his time under the late Admiral John Elliot, who was, we believe, one of the first officers by whom lunar observations were brought into practice at sea. Mr. D’Urban having been educated under the well known mathematician Mr. I. Dalby, who was employed with Colonel Mudge in the great trigonometrical survey, became particularly useful to Admiral Elliot, both in making and calculating his observations, which induced that officer to request, as a personal favor, that Earl Howe would promote him to the rank of Lieutenant a request which his Lordship immediately complied with[1].
At the commencement of the French revolutionary war, Lieutenant D’Urban embarked with his friend Captain Markham, in the Blonde frigate, and soon after accompanied an armament sent under Sir John Jervis to the West Indies, where he was engaged in a variety of active services, particularly during the siege of Martinique.
Soon after his return to Europe he joined the Monarch of 74 guns, bearing the flag of Sir George Keith Elphinstone, by whom he was attached to the advanced guard of the army at the reduction of the Cape of Good Hope, in 1795. He also assisted at the capture of a Dutch squadron in Saldanha bay, Aug. 18, 1796[2].
Amongst the promotions which took place on this latter occasion, was that of Lieutenant D’Urban, who received a commission from Sir George appointing him Captain of the Castor frigate. The Admiralty, however, only confirming him in the rank of Commander, he was subsequently removed into the Rattlesnake sloop of war.
His next appointment was to the Weazle of 16 guns, employed on the Jersey station, where he performed an essential service by establishing marks for the inner channels along the French coast, between St. Maloes and Brest; by which
- ↑ In 1790.
- ↑ See Vol, I, pp. 47-51.
