CHARLES LESLIE FALKINER, Esq.
[Commander.]
Third son of Sir Samuel Falkiner, Bart, by Sarah, daughter of Charles Leslie, M.D. and grand-daughter of the Very Rev. Dean Leslie.
This officer entered the royal navy in Jan. 1804, and served his time as midshipman, under Captains Henry Heathcote and Pulteney Malcolm, in the Galatea frigate and Donegal 74. Whilst belonging to the latter ship, he was often employed in her boats, when sent to annoy the enemy’s trade on the coast of France; and we also find him in the Hercule fire-ship, commanded by the first-lieutenant of the Donegal, at the attack made upon a French squadron in the road of Isle d’Aix, April 11th, 1809[1]. For his conduct on that occasion, he was promoted as soon as eligible, by commission dated Jan. 3d. 1810.
Mr. Falkiner’s only appointment as lieutenant was to the Shannon frigate, Captain (now Sir Philip) Broke, under whom he served, on the Channel and Halifax stations, for a period of two years and eight months. It will be seen, on reference to pp. 370 and 379 of Vol. II. Part I., that he headed the main-deck boarders of that ship, at the capture of the American frigate Chesapeake, June 1st, 1813; and that he was left in charge of that gloriously obtained prize in consequence of his captain finding himself obliged by wounds to resign the command of the Shannon to her senior surviving lieutenant. After taking the prize into Halifax harbour, Mr. Falkiner returned home with despatches, and was immediately presented with a commander’s commission, dated July 9th, 1813; since which, however, he has not been employed.