OpenLLM-France/wikimedia huggingface dataset:
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Pitt, William (b)

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​PITT. (Lieutenant, 1814. f-p., 10; h-p., 31.)
William Pitt (b) was born 16 Oct. 1793. His brother, John Pitt, while serving as Midshipman in the East Indies in the Victor sloop, was placed in charge of a prize brig taken from the Dutch at Java, and never heard of afterwards.
This officer entered the Navy, 9 May, 1806, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Howe store-ship, Capt. Edw. Killwick, and in July and Aug. following was received on board the Medusa 32, Capt. Hon. Duncombe Pleydell Bouverie, and Lion 64, Capt. Robt. Rolles. On his arrival in India he joined, in Oct. of the same year, the Blenheim 74, flag-ship of Sir Thos. Troubridge; on leaving which, in Jan. 1807, he became in succession attached, in the capacity of Midshipman, to the Dasher sloop, Capt. Augustus Montagu, Powerful 74, Capt. Robt. Plampin, Phaeton 38, Capts. Pownoll Bastard Pellew and Fleetwood Broughton Reynolds Pellew (under the latter of whom he co-operated in the reduction of Java in 1811), and Illustrious 74, bearing the broad pendant at first of Commodore Wm. Robt. Broughton, and the flag subsequently of Sir Sam. Hood. He returned home in Aug. 1813 in the Bucephalus 32, Capt. Barrington Reynolds; and after serving for a time in the Salvador del Mundo flag-ship at Plymouth of Admiral Wm. Domett, and Caledonia 120, flag-ship of Sir Edw. Pellew in the Mediterranean (whither he proceeded in the Indus 74), Capt. Wm. Hall Gage, was made Lieutenant, 29 Jan. 1814, into the Rivoli 74, Capts. Graham Eden Hamond and Edw. Stirling Dickson. Under the latter officer he continued to serve in the Mediterranean until Feb. 1816, and assisted at the capture, 30 April, 1815, after a brave defence of 15 minutes, of the French frigate La Melpomène of 44 guns. He has since been on half-pay.
Lieut. Pitt is married.
# A mystery solved - 26 May 2009

From http://www.peaceinsrilanka.org/press-releases-details/press-releases-details/2168: The Official Website of the Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP)
When the delegation of British MPs visited Sri Lanka earlier this month, the hostility of the Conservative Party representative was disconcerting. Reports in the Daily Mail indicating that John Bercow is Labour's favoured candidate for the vacant position of Speaker of the House may explain it, as the Peace Secretariat explains in a letter to the editor.
____________
The Editor
Daily Mail
London
Sir,
I must thank you for your article of May 24th entitled ‘Brown’s candidate for Speaker’, since it helps to explain something that had worried us in Sri Lanka.
Earlier this month the Hon. Des Browne led a cross-party delegation of MPs to Sri Lanka. He told us he had selected them carefully, to avoid any difficulties, and certainly the representatives of the Labour Party, the Liberal Democrats and the SDLP seemed without preconceptions in their approach. The exception was the Conservative, John Bercow, who was extremely confrontational from the start, and provoked a strong reaction from our President.
This was surprising because we had assumed that the Conservative Party had a more positive approach to Sri Lanka in its struggle against terrorism. Certainly the pronouncements of those who have engaged closely with us, such as the Hon. Liam Fox and Lord Naseby indicated a sympathetic understanding of the position.
Now however we can understand the strange attitude of Mr Bercow. It would be sad if he were rewarded with the position of Speaker because of hostility to his own party. It would be peculiar if an added attraction for the government were his acting as their hatchet man on the visit to Sri Lanka in which his other colleagues behaved so admirably, asking questions but making clear they did this with goodwill rather than animosity.
Yours sincerely,
Prof Rajiva Wijesinha
Secretary General
Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process
This work is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported license, which allows free use, distribution, and creation of derivatives, so long as the license is unchanged and clearly noted, and the original author is attributed.
Public domainPublic domainfalsefalse
The Daily Mail article referred to can be found here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/
An editorial on the subject from the Mail on Sunday can be found here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/
# A narrative of service with the Third Wisconsin Infantry/A cavalry expedition

A Cavalry Expedition
On June 6 this easy life came to an end. The company commanders of our Regiment were summoned to the Colonel's tent, and informed that the Regiment had been selected to accompany a cavalry expedition. We were instructed to leave behind all baggage not carried on the persons of the men, and to take only those who could march thirty miles a day. The expedition was to be composed of the two best regiments in each corps—the Second Massachusetts and ourselves having been selected from the Twelfth.
​We left our camp at about six o'clock and marched that night to Spott Tavern, fifteen miles away. The next day we reached Bealeton Station, where we bivouacked in the woods until the night of the 8th, awaiting the arrival of our cavalry. We were joined here by a number of other regiments, the whole force being under command of General Ames. Our State pride was highly gratified to find four Wisconsin regiments in this detail of picked commands from every corps.
On the night of the 8th, our whole force, infantry, artillery, and cavalry, moved down to the Rappahannock at Beverly Ford. The next morning, a portion of the Third Wisconsin was deployed to cover the crossing; but the enemy had not discovered us, and we passed over without trouble. The cavalry now pushed on to Brandy Station, on the railroad; the infantry following, with our detachment in the lead. The cavalry were soon briskly engaged, and in a little while Colonel Davis, their commanding officer, was brought back mortally wounded. The infantry was now disposed on the flanks, to guard the cavalry from being taken at a disadvantage. The ​fighting soon became general, being mostly by detached companies deployed as skirmishers. At one time, in advancing with my Company to clear out a piece of woods, I had a lively fight for a short time; five men out of the twenty with me were severely wounded before we drove the enemy from their shelter. At another time, Company D succeeded in getting on the flank and rear of a North Carolina regiment, and captured over a hundred prisoners. Some of our cavalry regiments were pretty severely handled at the beginning of the fight, especially before the infantry came up. On the whole, however, the expedition was a success, resulting in the capture of the head-quarters of the Confederate cavalry leader, General J. E. B. Stuart, together with many valuable papers and orders relating to the contemplated invasion of the North.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Agnew, John De Courcy Andrew

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​AGNEW. (Lieutenant, 1843. f-p., 12; h-p., 1.)
John De Courcy Andrew Agnew, born 11 Oct. 1819, is second son of Sir Andrew Agnew, Bart., of Lochnaw, co. Wigtoun, by Madalene, daughter of Sir David Carnegie, Bart., of Southesk.
This officer entered the Navy 15 Aug. 1834; passed his examination 21 Dec. 1839; and served as Mate, on the East India and North America and West India stations, of the Melville 72, Capt. Hon. Rich. Saunders Dundas, Winchester 50, Capt. Thos. Wren Carter, and Illustrious 72, flag-ship of Sir Chas. Adam. He obtained a Lieutenancy, 28 April, 1843, in the Scylla 16, Capt. Robt. Sharpe, on the station last mentioned, where he was afterwards appointed, 18 Oct. following, and 23 Feb. 1844, to the Pique 36, and Eurydice 26, Capts. Hon. Montagu Stopford and Geo. Elliot. Since his return to England, in 1846, Mr. Agnew has been on half-pay.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Ainslie, Henry

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​AINSLIE. (Lieutenant, 1838.)
Henry Ainslie, born in 1813, is third son of Sir Robt. Sharpe Ainslie, Bart., of Great Torrington, co. Lincoln; and nephew of Lieut. Geo. Ralph Ainslie, R.N ., who was lost on board the Courageux 74, in Dec. 1796.
This officer entered the Navy 20 Oct. 1826; passed his examination in 1833; served as Gunnery Mate, in 1837-8, of the North Star 28, Capt. Lord John Hay; and obtained, his commission 30 June, 1838. His appointments have since been – 16 Jan. 1839, to the Excellent gunnery-ship at Portsmouth, Capt. Sir Thos. Hastings – 1 Feb. 1840, to the Cambridge 78, Capt. Edw. Barnard, under whom he bore a part in the ensuing operations on the coast of Syria – 10 Feb. 1844, again to the Excellent – and 28 ​Aug. 1844, as First Lieutenant, to the Stromboli steam-sloop, Capt. Thos. Fisher, now employed on particular service. Agents – Messrs. Stilwell.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Agassiz, James John Charles

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​AGASSIZ. (Ret. Capt., 1840. f-p., 1 7; h-p., 50.)
James John Charles Agassiz entered the Navy, 30 Dec. 1780, as Captain’s Servant on board the Lizard, Capt. Edm. Dod, whom,in Oct. 1787, after an interval of five years, he rejoined, as Midshipman, in the Lowestoft frigate. Quitting that ship in Sept. 1790, he next, in Aug. 1793, became attached to the Mentor, Lieut.-Commander Rich. Welland. On 23 Sept. 1795, he was promoted from the Atlas 98, Capt. E. Dod, to a Lieutenancy in the Trident 64, Capt. Edw. Oliver Osborn, and while in that ship was present at the surrender of the Dutch squadron in Saldanha Bay, 17 Aug. 1796. He afterwards in succession joined the Trident 64, Capt. Edw. Oliver Osborn, Dordrecht 64, Capt. Gardner, Tromp, Capt. Billy Douglas, Triumph 74, Capt. Wm. Essington, Kite sloop, Capt. Chas. Lydiard, Resolution 74, Capt. Wm. Mitchell, and Hound, Capt. Geo. Sarradine. On 21 Aug. 1801, we find him, in conjunction with Lieut. Henry Le Vescomte, commanding the boats of the latter sloop and of a squadron, and acquiring the praise of Lord Nelson for his gallantry and zeal at the capture and destruction, with but trifling loss to the British, of six flat-bottomed gun-vessels, which had been driven on shore near St. Valery, and were protected by the fire of a body of military and five field-pieces. After eight months’ command of the Bold gun-brig, in the Downs and off Boulogne, Mr. Agassiz was promoted to the rank of Commander, by commission dated 29 April, 1802. His next and last appointments were, 6 Sept. 1804, and 22 Jan. 1806, to the Anacreon defence-ship, and Rattler sloop, in which latter vessel he appears to have been employed in escorting convoys to and from Newfoundland and the Western Islands until placed on half-pay in Oct. 1809. He retired with the rank of Captain 10 Sept. 1840.
Capt. Agassiz is married and has issue. One of his sons, James David, is a Lieutenant, R.N., and another, Lewis, a Second Lieutenant, R.M.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Airey, John Moore Cole

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​AIREY. (Lieutenant, 1829. f-p., 16; h-p,, 10.)
John Moore Cole Airey entered the Navy 1 Jan. 1821, and passed his examination in 1827. Being made Lieutenant, 13 May, 1829, into the Medina 20, Capt. Edw. Webb, on the African station, he afterwards joined, in that capacity, 25 June, 1831, and 28 Oct. 1833, the Philomel 10, and Edinburgh 74, Capts. Wm. Smith and Jas. Rich. Dacres, both in the Mediterranean. Since his return to England, in 1837, he has been on half-pay. Agents – Goode and Lawrence.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Aird, David

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​AIRD. (Lieutenant, 1845.)
David Aird passed his examination 5 April, 1839; and was appointed Mate, towards the close of 1841, of the Fly surveying-vessel, Capt. Francis Price Blackwood, on the East India station. He was promoted to the rank he now holds 9 Dec. 1845; rejoined the Fly, which he had but recently left, 23 Jan. 1846; and is at present employed in her tender, the Bramble schooner, Lieut.-Commander Chas. Bampfield Yule.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Airey, George Taylor

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​AIREY. (Lieutenant, 1815. f-p., 9; h-p., 32.)
George Taylor Airey entered the Navy, 12 June, 1806, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Donegal 74, Capt. Pulteney Malcolm, and on removing to the Hussah 3d, Capts. Robt. Lloyd and Alex. Skeene, sailed, after attending Lord Gambler’s expedition of 1807 to Copenhagen, for Halifax and the West Indies. From June, 1810, two years previously to which period he had attained the rating of Midshipman, he served, until the receipt of his commission, dated 17 Feb. 1813, latterly as Master’s Mate, in the Berwick 74, Capt. Jas. Macnamara, Colossus 74, Capt. Thos. Alexander, Bristol troop-ship, Capt. Geo. Wyndham, and Podargus 14, Capt. Jas. Wallis, all on the Home station. He has not since been officially employed.
He now commands the Hon. E.I.C.’s steam-ship Pluto.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Agassiz, James David

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​AGASSIZ. (Lieutenant, 1829.)
James David Agassiz is son of Capt. J. J. C. Agassiz, R.N.
This officer entered the Navy 7 May, 1815; passed his examination in 1823; and was promoted to a Lieutenancy, 20 March, 1829, in the Primrose 18, Capt. Thos. S. Griffinhoofe, on the coast of Africa, whence he returned to England in Jan. 1830. His appointments have since been – 28 Feb 1838, to the Donegal 78, Capt. John Drake, on the Lisbon station – 25 May, 1838, to the Pembroke 72, Capt. Fairfax Moresby, in the Mediterranean – and 6 April, 1844, as First Lieutenant, to the America 50, Capt. Hon. John Gordon, with whom he returned home from the Pacific in the summer of 1846.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Airey, George Sherbrooke

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​AIREY. (Lieutenant, 1830. f-p., 13; h-p., 12.)
George Sherbrooke Airey entered the Navy 4 April, 1823; passed his examination in 1823; and obtained his commission 10 Feb. 1830. His subsequent appointments were – 22 Aug. 1831, to the Isis 50, flag-ship at the Cape of Good Hope of Rear-Admiral Fred. Warren – 16 Dec. 1834, to the Scylla 16, Capt. Edw. John Carpenter, on the North America and West India station – and, 23 Feb. 1836, to the Howe 120, bearing the flag at the Nore of Hon. Chas. Elphinstone Fleeming. He has been on halfpay since the early part of 1837.
Lieut. Airey at present holds the appointment of Crown Commissioner at Port Philip.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Aitchison, Edward

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​AITCHISON. (Lieut., 1816. f-p., 15; h-p., 24.)
Edward Aitchison was born 15 Oct. 1794. This officer entered the Royal Naval College 16 Feb. 1808; and embarked, 21 Dec. 1810, as a Volunteer, on board the Crescent 38, Capt. John Quilliam, with whom he continued to serve, as Midshipman and Master’s Mate, on the Baltic, Newfoundland, and West India stations, until April, 1815. During that period he saw a good deal of boat service, was often in collision with the enemy’s batteries, and assisted at the capture, 16 Sept. 1813, of the Elbredge Gerry, American privateer, of 14 guns and 66 men. He afterwards joined the Tigre 74, Capt. John Halliday, and Ville de Paris and Leander, bearing the respective flags of Admirals Lord Keith and David Milne. On his return, in the latter ship, from Algiers, where, during the bombardment, he had been intrusted with the charge of a boat, for the purpose of burning one of the enemy’s frigates, and had been wounded, Mr. Aitchison was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, by commission dated 16 Sept. 1816. His next appointment appears to have been, 13 Sept. 1819, to the Brisk 10, Capts. John Wm. Montagu and Edw. Stewart; in which sloop, of whose boats he had command on the river Tyne during a serious dispute between the colliers and the civil authorities, he remained until transferred, 22 Sept. 1321, to the Coast Blockade, as Supernumerary-Lieutenant of the Severn 40, Capt. Wm. M‘Culloch. With his name afterwards on the books of the Ramillies 74, and Hyperion 42,Capts. Wm. M‘Culloch and Wm. Jas. Mingaye, he continued to be employed on the Coast Blockade until Aug. 1326; but since that period he has not held any further appointment.
Lieut. Aitchison married in March, 1825.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Aitchison, Robert

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​AITCHISON. (Capt., 1827. f-p., 19; h-p., 20.)
Robert Aitchison is son of Wm. Aitchison,Esq., of Drummore, East Lothian.
This officer entered the Navy, 3 Dec. 1808, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Lively 38, Capt. Geo. McKinley, in which frigate he was wrecked, off the Island of Malta, 10 Aug. 1810. Until confirmed in the rank of Lieutenant, 6 May, 1815, he afterwards served, as Midshipman, Master’s Mate, and Acting-Lieutenant, in the Unite 36, and Leviathan 74, both commanded by Capt. Patrick Campbell, Conqueror 74, Capt. Edw. Fellowes, Impetueux, Dublin, Venerable, and Bulwark 74’s, Capt. David Mane, Tonnant 80, flag-ship of Sir Alex. Cochrane, and Vengeur 74, Capt. Tristram Robt. Ricketts. While in the Bulwark, we find Mr. Aitchison commanding her tender for the annoyance of the enemy’s trade off Boston, and also witnessing (during a boat expedition up the Penobscot) the attack on Bangor and the destruction of the John Adams frigate. He was subsequently employed for six weeks in the boats of the Tonnant during the operations against New Orleans; and further commanded the small-arm men landed from the Vengeur to assist in the reduction of Fort Bowyer in Feb. 1815. Being appointed, 1 May, 1816, to the Leander 60, Capt. Edw. Chetham, Mr. Aitchison served at the ensuing bombardment of Algiers, and on that occasion commanded the forecastle and gangway guns. After a subsequent servitude of nearly three years as Flag-Lieutenant to Sir David Milne on the North America station, he was promoted to the rank of Commander, by commission, dated 17 July, 1819; and on 3 April, 1826, was next appointed to the Clio 18, in the North Sea. Since his Post-promotion, which took place 30 April, 1827, Capt, Aitchison has been on half-pay.
He married, first, 13 Dec. 1321, Eliza, daughter of the late Matthew Munro, Esq., of the island of Granada; and, secondly, 23 April, 1838, Catherine, daughter of Henry Combe Compton, Esq., M.P. for South Hampshire. Agents – Messrs. Halford and Co.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/McQuhae, Peter

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​M‘QUHAE. (Captain, 1835. f-p., 18; h-p., 26.)
Peter M‘Quhae entered the Navy, 22 Sept. 1803, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Excellent 74, Capt. Frank Sotheron. In that ship, in which he soon attained the rating of Midshipman, he served for nearly three years in the Mediterranean, where he took part in the defence of the Bay of Naples. He was next, from Aug. 1806 until Nov. 1808, employed, chiefly on the Home station; in the Phoebe 36, Capt. Jas. Oswald; after which, becoming Master’s Mate of the Lavinia 40, Capt. Lord Wm. Stuart, he assisted, previously to the fall of Flushing, in forcing a passage between the batteries of that place and Cadsand. In Jan. 1810, having attained the rank of Lieutenant 7 Oct. 1809, and been for a short time attached to the Apelles sloop, Capt. Thos. Oliver, he joined the Pyramus frigate, Capts. Chas. Dashwood and Jas. Whitley Deans Dundas, under whom he served with activity in the Baltic and Mediterranean, among the Western Islands, and along the coast of France, until within a short time of his advancement to the rank of Commander, 15 June, 1814. From the latter date Capt. M‘Quhae did not again go afloat until Sept. 1831; on 17 of which month we find him appointed to the Fly 18, fitting for the West Indies, whence he returned home and was paid off in Oct. 1835. He was advanced to the rank he now holds 10 Dec. following; and since 11 Oct. 1844 has been in command of the Daedalus 20, in the East Indies. Capt. M‘Quhae married (a second time), 19 Oct. 1831, Caroline, relict of S. Bloss Copping, Esq., of Harleston, co. Norfolk, by whom he has issue. Agents – Hailett and Robinson.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/McMurdo, Archibald

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​M‘MURDO. (Commander, 1843. f-p., 17; h-p., 6.)
Archibald M‘Murdo, born 24 Sept. 1812, is son of Lieut.-Colonel M‘Murdo, who lost his eyesight, and in the end his life, from the effects of a wound received in action in the West Indies.
This offtcer entered the Navy, 6 Oct. 1824, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Pylades 18, Capts. Fras. Fead, Geo. Vernon Jackson, and John Leith, stationed in the West Indies, where he removed, in Sept. 1825, to the Bellette 18, Capt. Chas. Croker. After serving for nearly two years at home, as Midshipman of the Superb and Melville 74’s, both commanded by Capt. Henry Hill, and Britomart 10, Capt. Russell Henry Manners, he proceeded in 1828 to the Mediterranean in the Blonde 46, Capt. Edm. Lyons, under whom, in Oct. of that year, he co-operated in the reduction of Morea Castle, the last hold of the Turks in the Peloponnesus. He had been previously employed at the blockade of Navarin. The Blonde being put out of commission in June, 1831, Mr. M‘Murdo (who had passed his examination in the preceding Nov.) was appointed Mate, a few months afterwards, of the Alligator 28, Capt. Geo. Robt. Lambert, and ordered to the East Indies, whence he returned home and was paid off in Aug. 1835. For the services he had during that period performed in recovering the crew of a wrecked whaler from the natives of New Zealand, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant 15 Feb. 1836. His succeeding appointments were – 23 May, 1836, to the Terror bomb, Capt. Geo. Back, whom he accompanied on a disastrous voyage of discovery to the northward of Charles Island, in Hudson’s Bay, returning to England in the autumn of 1837 – 2 Feb. 1838, to the Volage 28, Capt. Henry Smith, from which vessel, on her arrival in the East Indies, his health obliged him to invalid, 27 Oct. in the same year – and, 23 Aug. 1839, again, as First-Lieutenant, to the Terror, Capt. Fras. Rawdon Moira Crozier, fitting for an explorative mission to the Antarctic regions, where he remained until illness compelled him to return in Aug. 1842. He was advanced, in consequence, to his present rank, 4 Oct. 1843; and since 11 June, 1846, has been in command of the Contest 12, on the coast of Africa. Agents – Messrs. Chard.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Meade, John

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​MEADE. (Commander, 1812. f-p., 16; h-p., 35.)
John Meade, born 2 March, 1782, is son of the Rev. Rich. Meade, by Hon. Mary De Courcy, daughter of John, 25th Lord Kinsale, and sister of Admiral Hon. Michael De Courcy.
This officer entered the Navy, 1 Sept. 1796, as Midshipman, on board the Magnanime of 48 guns, commanded by his uncle, Capt. Hon. M. De Courcy, under whom, besides contributing to the capture of several privateers, he assisted at the taking, off Cape Finisterre, 24 Aug. 1798, of La Décade French frigate of 36 guns, and at the defeat, 12 Oct. following, of the squadron under Commodore Bompart intended for the invasion of Ireland. Removing, as Master’s Mate, in the early part of 1799, to the Canada 74, commanded at first by Capt. De Courcy and next by Capt. Joseph Sydney Yorke, he was on board that ship in the winter of 1800-1, when she had the fortune, at much risk to herself, of saving the Mars 74, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Edw. Thornbrough, from being wrecked on the ​rocks to the eastward of Ushant. On 20 Nov. 1802, a few months previously to which period he had joined the Leander 50, bearing the flag at Halifax of Sir Andrew Mitchell, Mr. Meade was there nominated Acting-Lieutenant of the Cambrian 40, Capts. Jas. Bradley and John Poo Beresford; to which ship he was confirmed 19 April, 1803. After he had again, for fifteen months, served under Sir A. Mitchell in the Leander, he obtained, 19 Aug. 1806, an appointment to the Leopard 50, Capt. Salusbury Pryce Humphreys, also on the Halifax station; where, on 22 June, 1807, he assisted in enforcing the surrender of the U.S. frigate Chesapeake, in consequence of a refusal on the part of the latter to allow the British to search her for deserters. He subsequently, from May, 1808, until advanced to his present rank, 4 Nov. 1812, officiated as Flag-Lieutenant to his uncle in the Tonnant 80, Diana 38, and Foudroyant. He assisted, in the Tonnant, at the embarkation of the army after the battle of Corunna in Jan. 1809; and was employed in the other ships on the Brazilian station.
Cominander Meade married, 19 Sept. 1814, Miss Elizabeth Hutchinson Quin, and by that lady has issue ten children.