# Royal Naval Biography/Folvil, Stephen

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STEPHEN FOLVIL, Esq [Post-Captain of 1802.]
This officer was educated at the college of Navarre; and prepared for the naval service at Bettesworth’s celebrated marine academy, so often mentioned in the course of this work. He embarked as a Midshipman on board the Narcissus, of 20 guns, commanded by the late Vice-Admiral d’Auvergne in 1787; and subsequently served under Captains Salisbury, Hicks, and Archibald Dickson, in the Andromeda frigate, Powerful 74, and Egmont of the same force, ​which latter ship formed part of Lord Hood’s fleet at the occupation of Toulon in 1793; and was afterwards employed in the reduction of St. Fiorenzo, on which occasion Mr. Folvil assisted in person at the capture of Mortella tower, and the attack of Convention redoubt, &c., services already described at p. 250 of our first volume. He was also employed on shore with the army during other operations in the island of Corsica.
On the promotion of Captain Dickson, Mr. Folvil removed into the Britannia, a first rate, bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Hotham; but after a week’s absence returned to the Egmont, then commanded by the present Sir John Sutton, under whom he served as a Lieutenant in the actions of March 14 and July 13, 1795; at the evacuation of Corsica; and in the memorable battle of Feb. 14, 1797. He likewise commanded a boat under that officer’s directions at the capture of a frigate and some other armed vessels at Tunis, in the spring of the preceding year.
Mr. Folvil returned to England as first Lieutenant of the Egmont; and afterwards served with Captain Sutton in the Superb of 74 guns, on the Irish, Channel, and Mediterranean stations. His promotion to the rank of Commander took place during Earl Spencer’s visit to the grand fleet, about Dec. 1800; and was rendered the more gratifying by his being the only one, out of thirty officers filling similar situations, who obtained advancement on that occasion. During the remainder of the war he commanded the Sally armed ship, and was employed in convoying the trade to and from the Baltic sea and German rivers. Whilst on that service he apprehended a man who had formerly belonged to the ill-fated Hermione; and was fortunate enough to have an opportunity of affording protection to that gallant veteran the late Prince of Conde. His post commission bears date April 29, 1802; subsequent to which he held an appointment in the Sea Fencible service, on the N.W. coast of Ireland, but was never employed afloat, although strongly recommended.
Captain Folvil married a daughter and co-heiress of Robert ​Nesbitt, of Moylagh, co. Tyrone, Esq., by whom he has two sons and three daughters.
Agent.– J. Copland, Esq.
* ↑ Captain Folvil is directly descended from the ancient and highly respectable family of la Tour d’Auvergne: but he is not, as has been supposed, in any way related to the late Vice-Admiral d’Auvergne.
* ↑ Whilst in the Andromeda Mr. Folvil had his nose and right leg broke by the snapping of a hawser; and previous to his leaving that ship he appears to have had a very narrow escape, a boat in which he was employed being swamped during a gale of wind in a dark night, by which accident 7 out of 9 persons were drowned.
* ↑ See Vol. I, p. 254.