part of the fleet of observation under Lord Hood: but subsequently commanded by Captain John Harvey, and attached to the grand fleet under Earl Howe, by whom he was received into the Queen Charlotte on promotion, through the recommendation of his dying commander, whose particular notice he had attracted during the lengthened contest between the British and French forces, which terminated with such glory to the former on the memorable first of June, 1794[1].
On the 14th Feb 1795, Mr. Pilfold received an order from Earl Howe to act as a Lieutenant on board the Russel 74, which appointment was immediately confirmed by the Admiralty; he consequently bore a part in Lord Bridport’s action off l’Orient, June 23d following, on which occasion three French line-of-battle ships were compelled to surrender; the Russel sustaining a loss of 3 men killed and 10 wounded.
Mr. Pilfold’s next appointment was, Sept. 1795, to the Kingsfisher sloop of war, in which vessel he continued for a considerable time, under various commanders, and assisted at the capture of several privateers, principally on the Lisbon station, where he received the thanks of Earl St. Vincent for his spirited conduct in suppressing a daring mutiny among her crew, several of whom were slain before subordination could be restored, as will be seen by reference to our memoir of Rear-Admiral Maitland, with whom he was then serving as first Lieutenant.
During his continuance in the Kingsfisher, Lieutenant Pilfold was successively appointed to his old ship, the Russel, and to the Commerce de Marseilles, a first rate, at the request of Sir Hugh C. Christian and Sir Charles M. Pole; but the kind intentions of those distinguished officers towards him were frustrated in consequence of no other gentleman being sent to supply his place, which rendered it impossible for him to obtain bis discharge from that vessel. In 1798, however, we find him on board the Impetueux 7B, of which ship he also became first Lieutenant previous to her being paid off at Plymouth, April 14, 1802. A gallant action performed by him in the Morbihan river, June 6, 1800, called forth the
- ↑ See Vol. I. note at p. 613 et seq. and memoir of Captain Rowland Bevan. N.B. The Brunswick had no less than 158 officers aad men killed and wounded. Mr. Pilfold was then serving as Masters Mate.
