Page:A Naval Biographical Dictionary.djvu/1270

1256 Néréide. In Feb. 1801 Capt. Watkins returned to England. His last appointment was, in 1808, to the 74. He was placed on the Retired List of Rear-Admirals 11 June, 1814; and successively promoted, 12 Nov. 1840, to the rank of Vice and full Admiral.

Admiral Watkins published, in 1809, a work entitled, ‘The Young Naval Hero; or, Hints to Parents and Guardians on Educating and Preparing Young Gentlemen for His Majesty’s Navy.’ He is married and has issue. – Hallett and Robinson.

 WATKINS. 

obtained his first commission 29 March, 1815. His, succeeding appointments were – 1 May, 1830, to the 120, flag-ship of Sir Thos. Foley at Portsmouth – 18 Feb. 1831, to the 84, Capt. Hyde Parker, on the Lisbon station – and 19 Dec. 1831 and 1 Sept. 1835, to the  104 and  120, bearing the flags, again at Portsmouth, of Sir T. Foley, Sir Thos. Williams, and Sir Philip Chas. Durham. Attaining the rank of Commander 10 Jan. 1837, he served in that capacity in the 72, flagship of Hon. Sir Chas. Paget, on the North America and West India station, from 15 Feb. 1837 until paid oif in 1839; in the Coast Guard from 5 Nov. 1839 until 1845; and in the 18, in the Pacific, from 27 Dec. 1845 until posted 29 April, 1847. – Fred. Dufaur.

 WATKINS. 

entered the Navy, 22 Dec. 1806, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the 74, Capt. John Temple, stationed in the North Sea. He was employed afterwards – from 21 April, 1807, until 27 March, 1809, and from 28 March, 1809, until 26 May, 1811, as Midshipman (a rating he had before attained) in the 74, Capts. Jas. Young, Kerr, and John Bligh, and sloop, Capts. John Willoughby Marshall and Percival, in the Channel and Baltic – from 27 May, 1811, until Feb. 1814, as Master’s Mate, in the 10, Capts. John M‘Kerlie and John Codd, again in the North Sea – and from Feb. 1814 until presented, in April, 1815, with a commission bearing date 28 Feb. preceding, in the 80, flag-ship of Hon. Sir Alex. Cochrane on the coast of North America. In the he assisted in driving a privateer of 16 guns into the Vlie Passage, and co-operated with the allies in the rivers Ems, Elbe, Weser, and Jade. His last appointment was, 6 April, 1815, to the 16, Capts. Nicholas Lechmere Patershall and Nagle Lock, on the Halifax station, whence he returned in Aug. 1816.

Lieut. Watkins married, 13 Sept. 1843, Mary, eldest daughter of Mr. Pratt, of Mincing Lane, London. – J. Hinxman.

 WATLING. 

was born in 1789, at Leominster, co. Hereford. He descends from the family of Sir Thos. Wyatt, who was beheaded in the reign of Queen Mary, for leading an insurgent force into London.

This officer (he had previously been in the merchant- service) entered the Navy 4 March, 1801, as Ordinary, on board the 64, Capt. Archibald Collingwood Dickson, and sailed shortly afterwards with the expedition against Copenhagen. On the memorable 2 of April, having rendezvoused in the launch on board the 74, bearing Lord Nelson’s flag, he was successively employed in rendering assistance to the  and  74’s, both which ships had grounded, also in towing the disabled  out of action, and in taking possession of several of the prizes. He continued to serve in the in the capacity of Midshipman until July, 1802; and on then removing to the  40, Capts. Edw. Fellowes and Jas. Athol Wood, he sailed for the Mediterranean. He was subsequently, from Nov. 1803, until March, 1805, employed in the 74, Capt. Chas. Brisbane, and from the latter date until June, 1808, in the 32 and  of 46 guns and 281 men, both commanded by Capt. Edw. Brace. In the boats of the he aided, in the early part of 1804, in cutting out a French brig from under the protection of a national cutter of 10 guns, and of the powerful batteries at Sable d’Olonne; an affair in which the British sustained a loss of several men killed and wounded, including among the former a First-Lieutenant of Marines, Mr. Kent. While belonging to the, which ship was stationed chiefly on the coast of Ireland, Mr. Watling contributed to the capture, 19 May, 1808, of the Dutch frigate Guelderland, of 36 guns and 253 men, after an obstinate conflict of an hour and a half attended with a loss to the latter of 25 killed and 50 wounded, and her opponent of only 1 killed and 2 wounded. On leaving the he was nominated, having but just passed his examination, Acting-Lieutenant of the  74, Capt. Jas. Newman Newman. He was confirmed, 22 Sept. in the same year, 1808; and on 22 of the following month, he was appointed to the 36, Capt. Sam. Pym. Proceeding in her to the Cape station Mr. Watling was afforded an opportunity, 21 Sept. 1809, of assisting at the capture of the town of St. Paul’s in the Ile de Bourbon; on which occasion the stood into the harbour, anchored within half-musket shot of La Caroline French frigate, two prize-Indiamen, and a brig-of-war, and opened so heavy a fire that in 20 minutes the whole of them struck their colours. In June, 1810, we find Mr. Watling commanding the pinnace, in company with the other boats of the under Lieut. Wm. Norman, and displaying conduct that did him great credit, in a successful attack made upon a deeply-laden three-masted schooner, which the enemy had run aground in a creek near Port Louis, within 200 yards of the shore, and under the protection of about 300 troops and several strong batteries. In face of all the opposition that could be made the vessel was boarded and burnt; and this with no greater loss to the British than was experienced by the pinnace, namely, 1 seaman killed and a Midshipman severely wounded. In the following July, preparations being made for the subjugation of the Ile de Bourbon itself, Mr. Watling was intrusted with the duty of superintending the debarkation of the whole of the troops, in number 950, who, under Lieut.-Colonel Frazier, were destined to accomplish that ; and in such an “astonishing fine style,” to use the words of Capt. Pym, did he and the seamen under him perform their part, that in less than two hours and a half the entire body was landed in safety and on its march, despite the heavy surf and rolling-stone beach. With his small-arm Mr. Watling afterwards succeeded in keeping possession, during the night, of the heights between the town of St. Paul’s and Colonel Frazier’s rear, and prevented thus any reinforcements being sent from the former to St. Denis. He also drove in all the enemy’s sharpshooters and took several cavalry horses. On 13 Aug. 1810 Mr. Watling, who was Second-Lieutenant of the, proceeded in her boats under Lieut. Norman, accompanied by the launch and cutter of the under Lieut. Henry Ducie Chads, to the attack of Isle de la Passe, the key to Grand Port, in the Isle of France; the batteries at which place being stormed and carried, after a desperate resistance on the part of a very numerous garrison, the commandant surrendered at discretion. In the midst of the conflict Lieut. Norman was killed, and Mr. Watling (who with Lieut. Chads, was warmly recommended for his conduct to the Commander-in-Chief ) succeeded in consequence to the command of the party landed from the. As described by Capt. Pym, his conduct throughout the whole of this important service was truly gallant. Immediately subsequent to the capture of Isle de la Passe we find him entering, in command of the boats, the port of Sud-Est for the purpose of attacking a ship of 18 guns and