# Royal Naval Biography/Banks, Francis

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FRANCIS BANKS, Esq. Knight of the Imperial Russian Order of St. Anne, and of the Royal Swedish Order of the Sword. [Commander.]
In April, 1798, this officer, then commanding the Garland, tender to the flag-ship of the commander-in-chief at the Leeward Islands, captured, near Dominica, the French privateer la Jeune Nantaise, of 4 guns and 39 men. His first commission bears date Nov. 24th, 1798. We next find him commanding the Blazer gun-brig, on the Heligoland station, where he captured several Danish privateers and merchant vessels, in the year 1809. The following are copies of two official letters addressed by him to John Wilson Croker, Esq. dated off Cuxhaven, Mar. 16th and 17th, 1813:
“Sir,– I beg to inform you, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that, from the intelligence communicated to me by the Lieut.-Governor of Heligoland, and what I otherwise learned by the arrival of vessels from the continent, of the distressed state of the French forces at Cuxhaven, and of the entrance of a Russian army into Hamburgh, I judged it expedient to take the Brevdrageren under my orders, and proceeded to the river Elbe, which I entered early this morning (16th) ​with the hope of intercepting such uf the enemy’s vessels as might attempt to make their escape; two of the gun-vessels we found deserted in the entrance of this river, and were afterwards destroyed; on a nearer approach to this place, I observed some were burning, others were sunk, and drifting about in ail directions; and I have the satisfaction to inform you of the total destruction of the French flotilla that was stationed at Cuxhaven, which were twenty large gun schuyts: the timely appearance of H.M. brigs prevented the escape of two, and I firmly believe, led to the destruction of the rest by their own hands: the Hamburgh flag is displayed on the batteries and castle of Ritzbuttel, and I intend to gain a communication with the shore. I am, &c.
(Signed)“F. Banks.”
“Sir,– I beg leave to acquaint you, for the information of my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that, having had communication with the civil authorities of Ritzbuttel, they expressed a desire that I would take possession of the batteries that had lately been evacuated by the French. I accordingly, this morning (17th) disembarked the small detachment of thirty-two of the Royal Veteran battalion, from Heligoland, and took possession of Cuxhaven battery. Fort Napoleon, which is half a mile higher up the river, I shall order to be destroyed. Every thing in these forts is in disorder; the guns dismounted, the carriages and stores destroyed. From what I have been able to observe this day, all is anarchy and confusion among the inhabitants, but they rejoiced much at a few English being landed. No senate as yet is formed at Hamburgh, nor do I hear of the Russian army having entered that city; whenever that can be ascertained, I shall communicate this event to the commanding officer there.
“The French withdrew from this place yesterday morning at five o’clock; their collective force was about twelve hundred; they made their retreat by Bederkesa to Bremen.
“I enclose a copy of the articles concluded on between the civil authorities and myself; I shall forward a list of military and other stores the moment I am able. I have the honor to be, &c.
(Signed)“F. Banks.”
“Articles concluded between the Civil Authorities of Ritzbuttel and Lieut. F. Banks, commanding H.M.’s forces in the river Elbe.
"The Hamburgh flag shall be hoisted in conjunction with the British, at the French batteries near Cuxhaven, until his Britannic Majesty’s pleasure is known. All military and other stores, belonging to the French, shall be delivered up to the English.
“The British troops shall take immediate possession of the batteries, and garrison the same.
“Executed on board H.M.’s brig the Blazer, this 17th March, 1813.”
On the 21st of the same months the Blazer’s cutter and ​Brevdrageren’s galley captured, near Brunsbuttel, on the Hanoverian side of the Elbe, two Danish gun-boats, each mounting two long 18-pounders and three 12-pounder carronades, with a complement of 25 men. This dashing service was performed by eighteen sailors, under the directions of Lieutenant Thomas B. Devon, commander of the Brevdrageren, and Mr. Dunbar, second master of the Blazer, at a distance of six leagues from the anchorage of those brigs.
On the 7th of Oct. following. Lieutenant Banks was promoted to his present rank, and ordered to retain the command of the Blazer, then rated a sloop of war. For his subsequent services, at the sieges of Cuxhaven and Gluckstadt, he was presented with the Orders of St. Anne and the Sword.
* ↑ See Vol. III. Part I. p. 232, et seq.
* ↑ See Suppl. Part III. p. 251 and 390, et seq.