Commander John Sanderson Gibson; and for nearly three years, as third of the Blake 74, Captain Edward Codrington. In the spring of 1809, the Sea-Lark schooner, sailing in company with the Blake, on the North Sea station, shipped a heavy sea, and immediately went to the bottom, taking with her the whole of the officers and crew, except one man, who was saved through the exertions of Lieutenant West, assisted by a good boat’s crew.
After the reduction of Flushing, on which occasion she bore the flag of Rear-Admiral Lord Gardner, the Blake was employed in the defence of Cadiz, (from whence she escorted four Spanish line-of-battle ships to Minorca) and subsequently in co-operation with the patriots of Catalonia[1]. While on the latter service, Mr. West had a severe attack of pleurisy, which compelled him to return home in Sept. 1811. When recovered, he was appointed flag-lieutenant to Rear-Admiral Thomas Surridge, commander-in-chief at Chatham, where he continued until the end of the European war; previous to which he had the honor of steering and attending on our present most gracious monarch, during his inspection of the Russian fleet, sent over to England for safety[errata 1]. He obtained his present rank through the very strong recommendation of Rear-Admiral Surridge, June 4th, 1814; and married, in 1815, his first cousin. Miss S. Ware, of Camden Town, near London. One of his brothers, Matthew Thomas West, is a lieutenant in the royal navy.
ROBERT JAMES GORDON, Esq.
[Commander.]
Third son of Captain Gordon, of Everton, near Bawtry, co. York.
This officer passed his examination in Nov. 1807; obtained a lieutenant’s commission on the 11th of the following month; and subsequently distinguished himself, on various occasions, while serving in the Mercury frigate, successively commanded by Captains James Alexander Gordon and the Hon. Henry Duncan, off Cadiz and in the Mediterranean. He was made
Errata:
- ↑ Correction: for safety should be amended to for safety in 1812
