OpenLLM-France/wikimedia huggingface dataset:
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Buchanan, William

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​BUCHANAN. (Retired Captain, 1846. f-p., 13; h-p., 39.)
William Buchanan was born 18 Nov. 1777.
This officer entered the Navy, 15 April, 1795, as A.B., on board the Narcissus 20, Capt. Percy Fraser, and, after an intermediate employment off the Bahama Islands, was discharged from the service, 19 Aug. 1796, in consequence of a severe wound, occasioned by the accidental explosion of a gun, which deprived him of his eye-sight for the space of a twelvemonth. On 24 Dec. 1799, however, he resumed his profession in the Alarm 32, Capt. Robt. Rolles, on the Jamaica station, where he assisted, as Master’s Mate, at the capture of several privateers and other armed vessels. He next served, from Feb. 1801, until the peace, in the Ruby 64, Capts. Solomon Ferris, Sir Edw. Berry, and Henry Hill, attached to the force in the North and Baltic Seas; and in June, 1803, he joined the Defence 74, Capt. Geo. Hope, under whom we find him present, 21 Oct. 1805, at the battle of Trafalgar, and, at the close of that glorious conflict, contributing to the safety of the San Ildefonso. On 24 of the same month (having but a few days previously passed his examination) he was promoted into the Tonnant 80, Capt. Chas. Tyler, refitting at Portsmouth. Lieut. Buchannan, who next served from 22 Jan. 1806, to 18 Dec. 1811, in the Audacious 74, Capts. John Seamouth, Thos. Le Marchant Gosselin, and Donald Campbell, principally on the Home and West India stations, was, in 1808, employed in landing the army under Sir Harry Burrard and Sir John Moore on the coast of Portugal, and officiated for several days as Assistant Beach-Master at the embarkation of the troops after the battle of Corunna, in Jan. 1809. His last appointment was, 25 March, 1812, as First-Lieutenant, to the Dictator 64, Capt. Jas. Pattison Stewart, in which ship, supported by the Calypso 18, he participated, 6 July following, in the capture and destruction, within the rocks of Mardoe, on the Norwegian coast, of a Danish squadron, consisting of the Nayaden of 48 guns, the Laland, Samsoe, and 'Kiel', sloops, and several gun-boats. For his share in that brilliant exploit, which occasioned the Dictator a loss of 5 men killed and 24 wounded, and the enemy of 300 killed and wounded, Lieut. Buchannan, who proved himself a most gallant and excellent officer, was advanced to the rank of Commander on 18 of the same month. He assumed the rank of Captain on the retired list 12 Feb. 1846.
Commander Buchannan married, in 1797, Miss Ann Arthur, and has issue a son and three daughters. His grandson, Mr. Wm. Buchannan Alexander, was lately serving as a Naval Cadet on board the Vestal 26, Capt. Chas. Talbot, in the East Indies.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Buckle, Claude Henry Mason

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​BUCKLE. (Captain, 1845.)
Claude Henry Mason Buckle is second son of Vice-Admiral Matthew Buckle.
This officer passed his examination in 1823; was promoted into the Ganges 84, Capt. Sam. Hood Inglefield, on the South American station, 17 April, 1827; joined, 8 Dec. 1829, the North Star 28, Capts. Lord Wm. Paget and Hon. Geo. Rolle Walpole Trefusis, employed in the West Indies; was appointed, 2 Dec. 1833, to the San Josef 110, as Flag-Lieutenant to Admiral Sir Wm. Hargood at Plymouth; and attained the rank of Commander, at the expiration of the latter officer’s term of service, 4 May, 1836. He was invested with the command, 7 Dec. 1841, of the Growler steam-sloop, on the African station; and on paying that vessel off was presented with a Post-commission, dated 6 Nov. 1845. Capt. Buckle has since been unemployed. Agents – Messrs. Stilwell.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Brunton, John

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​BRUNTON. (Lieut., 1825. f-p., 36; h-p., 3.)
John Brunton was born 1 Sept. 1794.
This officer entered the Navy 25 March, 1808, and, until 1813, served, successively, in the Barfleur 98, Thunderer 74, and Banterer 14. He then joined the Lacedemonian 38, Capt. Sam. Jackson, employed on the coast of North America, where he assisted at the capture of nearly 200 merchantmen, and was in the boats at the taking of the United States gun-boat No. 160. He subsequently became attached to the Niger and Ister frigates, and Cherokee brig; was appointed, early in 1824, to the Hecla bomb, Capt. Edw. Wm. Parry; and, after accompanying that officer on his third voyage for the discovery of a North-West passage, was advanced to his present rank 30 Dec. 1825. Since 27 Feb. 1828 – with the exception of three years, from 9 April, 1832, to 23 May, 1835, when he held command of the Mermaid Revenue-cruizer – Mr. Brunton has been employed in the Coast Guard, of which he is now an Inspecting-Lieutenant.
He married, in Oct. 1826, Ann, second daughter of Wm. Hill, Esq., of Birmingham, and by that lady has issue nine children.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Brunton, Richard

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​BRUNTON. (Lieutenant, 1841.)
Richard Brunton entered the Navy 3 June, 1809; passed his examination 7 June, 1815; served for some time, as Mate, in the Mermaid Revenue-cruizer, Lieut.-Commander David Rymer; and on 27 Dec. 1839, was transferred to the Coast Guard. His commission as Lieutenant bears date 23 Nov. 1841.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Decoeurdoux, George Lacey

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​DECOEURDOUX. (Retired Commander, 1844. f-p. 27; h-p., 31.)
George Lacey Decoeurdoux entered the Navy, 4 Nov. 1789, as Lieutenant’s Servant, on board the Childers 10, Capt. Hon. Robt. Stopford; and after an additional servitude, latterly as Midshipman, in the Saturn 74, Capt. Robt. Linzee, Royal Sovereign 100, flag-ship of Sir Thos. Graves, and L’Espion 38, Capt. Manley Dixon, accompanied the last-mentioned officer, in July, 1797, into the Lion 64. On 15 July, 1798, being off Carthagena, he took part in a brilliant action between the Lion and four Spanish frigates of 42 guns each, which terminated in the surrender of one of the latter, the Santa Dorothea subsequently to which, when in company with the Penelope and Foudroyant, at the blockade of Malta, he further assisted, as Acting-Lieutenant, at the capture, 31 March, 1800, of the French 80-gun ship Guillaume Tell, after a tremendous conflict, in which the Lion sustained a loss of 8 men killed and 38 wounded. Mr. Decoeurdoux, who next served for upwards of 12 months as a Supernumerary of the Ville de Paris 110, flag-ship in the Channel of the Hon. Wm. Cornwallis, was confirmed to a Lieutenancy in the San Fiorenzo frigate, 16 April, 1802. He was afterwards appointed – 23 March, 1803, to the Mars 74, Capts. Robt. Dudley Oliver, Geo. Duff, and Wm. Lukin – 11 Dec. 1806, to the Weymouth store-ship, Capt. Martin White – 18 Jan. 1808, to La Flêche 18, Capts. Thos. White and Wm. Buchanan – and, 12 June, 1809, to the command of the Pegase prison-ship at Portsmouth, which he retained for upwards of three years. During his attachment to the Mars, Lieut. Decoeurdoux, besides sharing in the battle of Trafalgar, was present at the capture, 28 July, 1806, of Le Rhin, of 44 guns and 318 men; and, on 25 Sept. following, he was with Sir Sam. Hood’s squadron at the taking, off Rochefort, of four heavy French frigates, two of which, La Gloire 46, and L’Infatigable 44, struck to the Mars. From Jan. 1813, to July, 1817, he was next very actively employed, as a Transport Agent, on various stations, and was particularly active at the embarkation of the allied troops at Calais, in July, 1814, and Dec. 1815. His last appointment was to the Ordinary at Portsmouth, where he served from 26 May, 1831, until 30 April, 18-34. The rank he now holds was conferred on him 15 June, 1844.
Commander Decoeurdoux was admitted to the out-pension of Greenwich Hospital 12 July, 1839. He married, 21 Oct. 1809, Miss Jane Arnold, of Forton; and is father-in-law of Capt. John Reynolds, R.N.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/De Vitré, John Denis

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​DE VITRÉ. (Lieut., 1781. f-p., 14; h-p., 62.)
John Denis De Vitré was born 28 Oct. 1757, and died 29 Dec. 1846, at Lancaster.
This officer entered the Navy, in July, 1771, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Somerset 64, guard-ship at Plymouth, commanded by the late Sir Edw. Hughes; with whom (after an intermediate attachment to the Aldborough 20, Capt. Hawker, off Newfoundland) he proceeded to the East Indies, in 1774, as Midshipman of the Salisbury 50. On there removing to the Coventry 28, Capts. Benj. Marlow and Andrew Mitchell, he took part, as Master’s Mate, in a severe action of two hours, fought off Pondicherry, 10 Aug. 1778, between a British squadron under Sir Edw. Vernon and a superior French force under M. de Tronjolli, at the close of which the enemy made sail and escaped. In the course of the following year we further discover the Coventry sustaining, singly, a gallant conflict, which lasted four hours, with Hyder Ali’s powerful fleet; and, next, contributing to the reduction of Fort Arnold. On 3 March, 1781, Mr. De Vitré was promoted, from the Superb 74, bearing the flag of Sir Edw. Hughes, to a Lieutenancy, in the Chaser 18, Capt. Thos. Parr; in which vessel, in Feb. 1782, he appears to have been taken captive, after a valiant resistance of several hours, by the Bellona, a French frigate of 36 guns. Being ultimately handed over to Hyder Ali, he endured ​at the hands of that potentate, for the space of 22 months, a series of more than ordinary privations and hardships, being night and day loaded with heavy chains, compelled in that state to march from prison to prison under a broiling sun, and supported during the whole period on a miserable allowance of the worst of fare. On at length regaining his liberty, 25 April, 1784, Mr. De Vitré returned to England. He afterwards served in the West Indies, from June, 1787, to May, 1789, on board the Alert 16, Capt. Geo. Burdon; and on 6 May, 1797, he was appointed to the command, in the river Thames, of the Biter 14. He left that vessel on 15 Feb. 1798, and did not afterwards go afloat. When in the Aldborough, Mr. De Vitré had witnessed a gale so fearful that all the guns and everything portable were thrown overboard, besides there being eight or nine feet water in the hold; and, while in the Coventry, off Trincobar, he had been again nearly lost in another hurricane, in which that ship appears to have been totally dismasted, and to have had in her hold upwards of 12 feet water.
Lieut. De Vitré, who died the Senior officer of his rank in the Navy, was admitted to the out-pension of Greenwich Hospital 2 July, 1809. He married, 3 Oct. 1791, Bridget, daughter of Jas. Fawcett, Esq., of Scaleby Castle, co. Cumberland, and has left issue twelve children.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/De Vere, William Cecil

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​DE VERE. (Lieutenant, 1846.)
William Cecil De Vere passed his examination 22 April, 1843; and served for upwards of three years, as Mate, on board the Rodney 92, Capt. Robt. Maunsell, Stromboli steam-sloop, Capt. Hon. Edw. Plunkett, and Collingwood 80, flag-ship in the Pacific of Sir Geo. Eras. Seymour. He obtained his commission 15 Aug. 1846.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Dealy, William Justin

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​DEALY. (Lieut, 1820. f-p., 13; h-p., 27.)
William Justin Dealy entered the Navy, 7 Nov. 1807, as A.B., on board the Ramillies 74, Capt. Fras. Pickmore, on the West India station; where, in the Mulgrave, Demarara, and Fawn, he assisted, under the Hon. Geo. Alfred Crofton, at the reduction of the islands of St. Thomas, Sta. Croix, Marie-galante, and Martinique. From April, 1810, until Sept. 1814, he was next most actively employed, on the Baltic and North American stations, as Midshipman and Master’s Mate of the Woodlark 10, and Jaseur 16, both commanded by Capt. Geo. Edw. Watts; participating, during that period, in many warm encounters with the enemy, and witnessing the capture of a vast number of armed and other vessels, as also of the towns of Benedict and Marlborough in the Chesapeake. After being detained for about two months as a prisoner on board the American privateer Fox Mr. Dealy was appointed Acting-Master of the Wasp sloop, Copt. John Fisher; subsequently to which he served for nearly two years in the East Indies as Admiralty-Midshipman, and again, as Second Master, in the Orlando 36, Capt. John Clavell, and Favourite 20, Capt. Hon. Jas. Ashley Maude. In Jan. 1818 he was transferred, from the Superb 74, Capt. Chas. Ekins, to the Dorothea, Capt. David Buchon, whom he accompanied on a perilous voyage of discovery to the neighbourhood of Spitzbergen. After a further attachment of. three months to the Bulwark 74, bearing the flag of Sir John Gore at Chatham, Mr. Dealy, in May, 1819, sailed in the Hecla sloop, Lieut.-Commander Wm. Edw. Parry, on another mission to the Frozen Regions, where he penetrated to long. 113° 54' 43" W. within the Arctic Circle, and thereby became entitled to a portion of a Parliamentary reward of 5000l. conferred on the expedition. He was also promoted, on his arrival home, to the rank of Lieutenant, by commission dated 26 Dec. 1820; but since that period has remained unemployed.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Deane, William Godfrey

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​DEANE. (Lieutenant, 1843.)
William Godfrey Deane entered the Navy 6 April, 1829; passed his examination 12 Nov. 1836; and served for a considerable time on the South ​American and Home stations, as Mate of the Curaçoa 24, Capt. Jenkin Jones, and St. Vincent 120, flag-ship of Sir Edw. Codrington. His appointments since his promotion, which took place 20 Oct. 1843, have been – 19 April, 1844, to the Hecate steam-sloop, Capt. Jas. Paterson Bower, employed on Particular Service – 17 Sept. 1845, as Additional, to the Vindictive 50, flag-ship in North America and the West Indies of Sir Wm. Fras. Austen – and, 16 March, 1846, to the Persian 16, commanded on the same station by Capt. Hen. Coryton.
He married, 13 April, 1844, Caroline, daughter of the late G. Arundel Nixon, Esq., of Brown’s Barn, co. Kilkenny.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Deans, Robert

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​DEANS. (Captain, 1838. f-p., 18; h-p., 25.)
Robert Deans, born 4 Oct. 1792, at Huntington, N.B., is second son of the late Admiral Deans of that place, who died in 1815.
This officer entered the Navy, 11 Jan. 1804, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Glatton 50, Capt. Jas. Colnett, flag-ship at Leith of Rear-Admiral Jas. Vashon. Until Dec. 1810 he afterwards served on the same, and on the Lisbon and Mediterranean stations, in the Texel 64, Capt. Donald Campbell, Woodlark 12, Lieut.-Commander Thos. Innes, and Kent, Royal Sovereign, Ville de Paris, and San Josef, flag-ships of Admirals Edw. Thornbrough. Lord Collingwood, and Sir Chas. Cotton. On 1 May, 1811, having been appointed Acting-Lieutenant of the Cherokee 10, Capt. Wm. Ramage, he took part, with the boats of that vessel, and of the Clio and Bellette, in an unsuccessful attempt to cut out some galliots lying at Egersund, on the coast of Norway, and on that occasion lost two fingers of the left hand, and received a musket-ball in the right arm, which has never yet been extracted. For his gallantry he was confirmed by the Admiralty 15 June following; subsequently to which we find him appointed – 19 March, 1812, and 15 Feb. 1813, to the Venerable and Stirling Castle 74’s, both commanded by Sir Home Popham – and, 23 June, 1814, 1 June, 1815, and 8 July, 1816, as Flag-Lieutenant, alternately at Leith and in the river Thames, to Sir Wm. Johnstone Hope and Sir Home Popham, in the Latona, Iris, and Ramillies. When in the Venerable, Mr. Deans was in very active command of a detachment of seamen on the north coast of Spain, where he assisted at the capture of several forts, and of the town of St, Andero. In the Stirling Castle he accompanied Earl Moira, as Governor-General, to India, and on the passage acquired the particular notice of that nobleman for his exertions in saving the lives of two seamen who had fallen overboard. The subject of this memoir, who assumed the rank of Commander 9 Sept. 1818, was afterwards appointed, on the Home and Lisbon stations, to the command, 30 April, 1827, and 24 Nov. 1829, of the Clio and Childers sloops. While in the latter vessel, which he paid off in 1832, he appears to have been senior officer of a small squadron employed in the river Douro during the struggle between Pedro and Miguel. He has not been afloat since the receipt of his Post-commission, 28 June, 1838.
Capt. Deans, in consideration of his severe wounds, was presented with a gratuity from the Patriotic Fund in 1812, but was refused a pension. he married, first, 1 Feb. 1821, Mary, eldest daughter of the late Richard Clay, Esq., of Gloucester Place, London; and secondly, 2 March, 1830, Charlotte Sophia, youngest daughter of Duncan Stewart, Esq., of Glenbuchie, co. Perth. He has issue two daughters. Agent – J. Hinxman.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Rodd, John Rashleigh

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​RODD. (Lieutenant, 1840.)
John Rashleigh Rodd is fifth and youngest son of the late Rev. Edw. Rodd, D.D., of Trebartha Hall, co. Cornwall, Rector of St. Just, in Roseland, and Vicar of Lamerton, in Devon, by Harriet, eldest daughter of Chas. Rashleigh, Esq., of Duporth, co. Cornwall; and nephew of the late Vice-Admiral Sir John Tremayne Rodd, Kt., K.C.B.
This officer entered the Navy 13 May, 1830; passed his examination in 1836; obtained the rank of Lieutenant, as a reward for his services on the coast of Syria, including the bombardment of St. Jean d’Acre, 4 Nov. 1840; joined, 11 June, 1841, the Scout 18, Capt. Joseph Paffard Dickson Larcom, fitting at Chatham; and from 19 Aug. 1841, until paid off at the close of 1847, was employed in the Pacific in the Dublin 50, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Rich. Thomas, and, as First-Lieutenant, in the Fisgard 42, Capt. John Alex. Duntze. His appointment to the latter ship took place 21 Dec. 1844. Since 16 May, 1848, he has been serving, as Senior, in the Illustrious 72, depot-ship of Ordinary at Portsmouth, Capt. Rich. Augustus Yates. Agents – Messrs. Ommanney.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Roe, John Septimus

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​ROE. (Lieutenant, 1822. f-p., 14; h-p., 20.)
John Septimus Roe entered the Navy, 11 June, 1813, as Midshipman, on board the Rippon 74, Capt. Sir Christopher Cole, attached to the Channel fleet; and, on 21 Oct. following,was present at the capture of the French 40-gun frigate Le Weser. Between Aug. 1814 and Jan. 1817 he served on the Newfoundland, Home, and East India stations in the Horatio 38, Capt. Wm. Henry Dillon; he was next, from Feb. in the latter year until June, 1823, employed under Capt. Philip Parker King on surveying service in New South Wales, part of the time in the Bathurst sloop, of which vessel he was created a Lieutenant 25 April, 1822; and in Feb. 1824, he obtained an appointment to the Tamar 26, Capt. Jas. John Gordon Bremer. In that ship, in which he continued until 1823, he assisted in establishing a colony on Melville Island, Australia, and, on proceeding to India, joined in the closing operations of the Burmese war. Since the date last mentioned he has been on half-pay.
Lieut. Roe has for many years filled the appointment of Surveyor-General in Western Australia. Agents – Messrs. Stilwell.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Roe, Robert Bradley

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​ROE. (Lieutenant, 1810. f-p., 32; h-p., 12.)
Robert Bradley Roe entered the Navy, 28 Oct. 1803, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Plantagenet 74, Capts. Hon. Michael De Courcy, Jas. Bradby, and Fras. Pickmore, attached to the Channel fleet. In Sept. 1805 (he had previously attained the rating of Midshipman) he joined the Ramillies 74, Capt. Fras. Pickmore, on the West India station, where, in the course of the same month, he was received on board the Northumberland 74, bearing the flag of the late Sir Alex. Cochrane, and Princess Charlotte 38, Capt. Geo. Tobin. In the latter ship he took part, 5 Oct. in the same year, in a severe action of an hour, near Tobago, with La Cyane of 26 and La Naïade of 16 guns, the former of which then surrendered. He continued in the Princess Charlotte, employed in the occasional escort of convoys, until Feb. 1810. On his return, shortly afterwards, to the West Indies in the Druid 32, Capt. Sir Wm. Bolton, he joined the Cygnet sloop, Capt. Edw. Dix; and, on 10 May, 1810, at which period he was again serving with Sir Alex. Cochrane in the Neptune 98, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. During the next four years he was employed on the West India and Channel stations in the Wanderer 20, Capts. Wm. Robilliard, Crofton, Frank Gore Willock, and Fras. Newcombe. He served subsequently – in 1814-15, in the Insolent and Castilian sloops, Capts. Wm. Kelly and David Braimer, on the coast of Ireland – and, from 1 Sept. 1818 until 1821, in the Révolutionnaire 46, Capt. Hon. Fleetwood Broughton Reynolds Pellew, on the Mediterranean station. Since 5 March, 1830, he has been in charge of a station in the Coast Guard.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Rodney, Thomas Maitland

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​RODNEY. (Commander, 1846.)
Thomas Maitland Rodney, born 14 Oct. 1810, is second and youngest son of the late Capt. Hon. John Rodney, R.N., by his second marriage.
This officer entered the Navy 5 Feb. 1824; passed his examination in 1830; and obtained his first commission 31 Aug. 1832. He was afterwards appointed – 10 Jan. 1833, to the Spartiate 70, Capt. Robt. Tait, fitting for the South American station, whence he returned towards the close of 1835 – 9 Sept. 1836, as Senior, to the Conway 26, Capt. Chas. Ramsay Drinkwater Bethune, in which ship we find him (during a continuance in her of more than four years) employed at New South Wales and participating in the earlier operations of the China war – and, 15 Aug. 1843, in a similar capacity, to the Medusa 18, Capts. Thos. Baillie and Thos. Vernon Watkins, stationed in the Pacific, where he remained until advanced to his present rank 9 Nov. 1846. Agents – Messrs. Chard.