by John Marshall

“ The commander-in-chief cannot too highly extol the valiant conduct displayed by the officers and men belonging to part of the squadron under his orders, in the late attack made upon the enemy’s flotilla, off Percola Point, and the intrepid gallantry with which they boarded and brought off six gun-boats, carrying heavy metal, and a complement of men nearly double their numbers ”

“ The subject of this sketch was born at Blackheath, co. Kent, July 22d, 1779; and embarked as midshipman on board the Diomede 44, Captain Matthew Smith, in May, 1793. On the 2d Aug. 1795, he suffered shipwreck, near Trincomalee [1] ”