2230222Royal Naval Biography — Kittoe, EdwardJohn Marshall


EDWARD KITTOE, Esq.
[Post-Captain of 1810.]

Entered the navy, in Dec. 1780, as a midshipman on board the Bellona 74, Captain (afterwards Sir Richard) Onslow; in which ship, and the Standard 64, he served on the Channel station, until the peace of 1783. During the next three years we find him in the Grampus 50, on the coast of Africa. He afterwards successively removed into the Scout sloop; Trusty 50, bearing the flag of Sir John Laforey, with whom he proceeded to the West Indies; and Royal George 110, flag-ship of Sir Alexander Hood; under which latter officer he continued until his promotion, and appointment to the Saturn 74, Feb. 26, 1794.

In the following month. Lieutenant Kittoe joined the Hebe frigate. Captain Alexander Hood; and in June 1796, he was appointed acting Commander of the Pelican sloop, on the Leeward Islands’ station. That vessel formed part of Rear-Admiral Harvey’s squadron at the unsuccessful attack of Porto Rico, April 1797[1].

On the 13th Sept., same year, Lieutenant Kittoe, then commanding the Bittern of 16 guns, engaged and captured l’Agréable French privateer, mounting 18 guns, with a complement of 115 men. His appointment to the Bittern was confirmed by the Admiralty soon after this action. On the 8th Sept. 1798, he captured le Dix Août privateer, of 12 guns and 50 men.

Early in 1803 the subject of this sketch was appointed acting Captain of la Minerve frigate; and we subsequently find him superintending the equipment of the Britannia, a first rate. In May 1804, he obtained the command of l’Argus sloop, from which vessel he removed to the Sabrina of 18 guns, about Oct. 1806; the latter he commanded during the Walcheren expedition, in 1809.

Captain Kittoe’s post commission bears date Jan. 4, 1810. In July foHowing he was appointed to the Milford 74, flagship of Sir Richard G. Keats, under whom he served at Cadiz, during the memorable defence of that important place[2]; and afterwards in the Hibernia 110, on the Mediterranean station. His last appointment was, Dec. 20, 1814, to the Astraea 42, which frigate he commanded on the coast of France, until the final termination of hostilities in 1815.



  1. See Vol. I, note at p. 113.
  2. See Captains Sir Thomas Fellowes, Frederick Jennings Thomas, and William Henry Smyth.