by John Marshall

“ We next find Mr. King commanding the Cuvarra merchant ship; and at the renewal of hostilities he was appointed to a gun-brig, which vessel he gave up in order to become Sir Home Popham’s first Lieutenant, in the Diadem 64. By that officer he was successively appointed Commander of l’Espoir brig, and Captain of the Diadem; but these and other unauthorised acts of the Commodore during and subsequent to the expedition against the Cape of Good Hope, in 1805 and 1806, were highly disapproved of by the Admiralty, and consequently never confirmed. ”

“ Commenced his naval career at a very early age, under the patronage of the Earl of Sandwich, then First Lord of the Admiralty. When only sixteen years of age, we find him acting as Lieutenant of the Defence 74, commanded by Captain Thomas Newnham, under whom he bore a part in the action between Sir Edward Hughes and Mon. ”