Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v2p1.djvu/116

 and fairly beat her out of the enemy’s line; but such was the obstinacy of her commander, that although she had been rendered perfectly defenceless, and her firing had entirely ceased, he could not be prevailed on to strike. Lord Hugh was at length obliged to leave his antagonist, and close with the British Admiral, in obedience to a signal then flying: l’Amérique soon after struck to the Russel, without making any further resistance. The Leviathan had 10 men killed and 33 wounded, whilst the French ship, in the different actions, had 134 slain and 110 wounded.

Mr. Larkan’s conduct, as first Lieutenant of the Leviathan, on those eventful days, procured for him almost immediate promotion; and we subsequently find him commanding the Hornet sloop of war. His advancement to the rank of Post-Captain took place Sept. 16, 1796; and from this period till the peace of Amiens, he was employed in the Camilla, a 20-gun ship, principally on the North Sea and American stations.

Captain Larkan appears to have been doomed to a state of painful inactivity during the whole of the late war. He wasappointed to the Royal Hospital at Greenwich, in Jan. 1818, and placed on the retired list in Aug. of the following year. His brother was first Lieutenant of the Defence in the battle of the 1st June, and is now a Commander on half pay. 

 officer is the third son of Edmund, seventh Earl of Cork ami Orrery, by his first Countess, Anne, daughter of Kelland Courtenay, Esq. and niece to John, fourth Earl of Sandwich.

He was born Sept. 3, 1769, and entered the naval service Feb. 19, 1781, as a Midshipman, on board the Latona frigate, commanded by the late Sir Hyde Parker, in this ship he witnessed the action between the squadron under the command of his Captain’s veteran father, and that of Holland under Admiral Zoutman ; some time after which he had the misfortune to fall from the booms into the orlop, and was