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  the navy in Jan. 1781, and was a midshipman on board the Shrewsbury 74, Captain (now Sir John) Knight, in the actions between Sir Samuel Hood and the Count de Grasse, at the anchorage before Basseterre, in Jan. 1782. We subsequently find him serving under Commodore Edward Thompson, in the Grampus 50, on the coast of Africa.

At the commencement of the French revolutionary war, Mr. Palmer joined the Robust 74, commanded by the late Lord Keith, from which ship he was promoted into the Nemesis 28, Captain Lord Amelius Beauclerk, at Toulon, in Sept. 1793. He also served under the latter officer in the Juno 32.

The Juno being paid off soon after her escape from Mons. Richery, Lieutenant Palmer was appointed to the Phoenix 36, Captain Lawrence William Halsted, in which ship he assisted at the capture of the Dutch frigate Argo, May 12, 1796, In the following month he rejoined Lord Amelius Beauclerk, with whom he continued to serve in the Dryad and la Fortunée, on the Irish and Channel stations, until the peace of Amiens. During that period, he assisted at the capture of the following French privateers:–

In Nov. 1802, Lieutenant Palmer was appointed first of the Venerable 74, Captain John Clarke Searle; with whom he removed to the Monarch 74, bearing the flag of Lord Keith, in 1803. Between that time and his promotion to the rank of commander, Jan. 22, 1806, he had charge of various cruisers, off Boulogne, during the temporary absence of their