by John Marshall

“ Clair, lieutenant-colonel of the 94th foot, was honoured with four medals for his services during the peninsular war. The Hon. Matthew Sinclair, who perished when commanding the Martin sloop of war, in 1800, was a cousin to those gentlemen. ”

“ From the Sheldrake, Commander St. Clair exchanged into the Reynard sloop, likewise on the Baltic station, where he captured another French privateer, commanded by an officer of Napoleon’s navy; and assisted at the destruction of seven large English ships, laden with hemp, that had run on shore in a thick fog, near Stralsund [2] . In 1813, he accompanied the Orion 74, Captain Sir Archibald Dickson, and fifteen Russian line-of-battle ships, from the neighbourhood of Bornholm, through the Great Belt, to England. ”

“ Clair.”
The privateers alluded to above were taken by boarding, at a distance of sixty miles from the Victory’s anchorage; six of their men were slain in the conflict, and several officers wounded: the British boats had only one man killed, and another shot through both arms. For this service, Lieutenant St. Clair had the honor of receiving his admiral’s thanks on the very spot where Nelson last fought, and fell. His promotion to the rank of commander took place Nov. 20th, 1812; on which occasion he was appointed to the Sheldrake sloop of war. ”

“ No sooner was the first report heard, than he bore up, and placed his sloop in the best position for affording succour to the crew of the Courageux, in the event of her going to pieces. At daylight the next morning, however, he had the gratification to see her anchored in deep water, but without masts, rudder, or guns. ”

“ He soon afterwards captured l’Aimable d’Hervilly, French privateer, in the vicinity of Möen island; and subsequently ran through the Malmo passage, without pilots; as did also, at the same time, the Aquilon frigate. Captain Thomas Bowles. ”