Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v1p2.djvu/432

  Rear-Admiral of the Blue; a Companion of the most honorable Military Order of the Bath; and a Knight Commander of the Portuguese Order of the Tower and Sword.

officer is descended, on his father’s side, from the old family of the Walkers of St. Fort, in Fifeshire, N.B.; and on that of his mother, from the noble and ancient family of Leslie, being the grandson of Alexander, fifth Earl of Leven and Melville. His entry into the naval service appears to have been about 1776, as a Midshipman, on board the Southampton frigate, in which ship he served during a period of five years, principally on the Jamaica station, and in the grand fleet under Sir Charles Hardy. While in the West Indies, he was frequently employed in her boats attacking and cutting out vessels from under the enemy’s batteries.

In Aug. 1780, the Southampton captured a French privateer, of 18 guns and 80 men. Mr. Walker was sent to assist. in removing the prisoners; but before that service could be completely effected she suddenly sunk, and he remained a considerable time in the water before he could be rescued from his perilous situation. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on the 18th June, in the following year.

Lieutenant Walker’s first appointment was to the Princess Royal, a second rate; but as that ship was ordered to England, he exchanged into the Torbay, of 74 guns, then about to proceed to North America. He served in that ship, under Sir Samuel Hood, during the splendid operations at St. Christopher’s, and in the memorable engagement between Sir George B. Rodney and the Count de Grasse, April 12, 1782 ; on which latter occasion she had 10 men killed and 25 wounded.

In the month of October following, the Torbay being on a cruise off Hispaniola, in company with the London 98, and Badger sloop, fell in with, and after a most arduous chase,