by John Marshall

“ Is lineally descended from Patrick Fitz-Stephen French, who died at Dungar (now called French Park) co. Roscommon, Ireland, in the year 1600, and was a junior branch of the family of de Berneval, originally from Lower Brittany, in France, and allied to the dukes of that province. ”

“ Montague 74, Captain Robert Waller Otway; and Bellona 74, Captain John Erskine Douglas, Lieutenant French was appointed, July 11, 1811, to the command of the Basilisk gun-brig, which vessel formed part of the small force under Captain Thomas Ussher, at the capture and destruction of the castle of Almuñecar, in May, 1812 [1] . He was re-appointed to the same brig, with the rank of commander, May 22, 1813.
Captain French’s next appointment was, Dec. 22, 1820, to the Sophie of 18 guns, from which sloop he was posted by the Admiralty, into the Leander 60, on the East India station, July 20, 1822. ”