Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v2p1.djvu/450

 . One of his sons is a Midshipman, R.N., and another an officer in the army.

Agents.– Messrs. Goode and Clarke. 

 officer, a nephew of the late Earl of St. Vincent, served as a Midshipman on board the Orion 74, commanded by Captain John Thomas Duckworth, in the actions of May 28 and 29, and June 1, 1794. He was made a Commander, Oct. 10, 1799, and during the remainder of the war commanded the Stork of 18 guns; in which vessel he captured la Legere French packet of 14 guns and 50 men, laden with West India produce; and assisted at the capture of El Cantara Spanish privateer of 22 guns and 110 men, and a lugger mounting 10 guns.

Captain Parker obtained post rank Oct. 9, 1801; and in Nov. 1802, was appointed to the Amazon frigate. On the 16th July, 1803, he captured le Felix French privateer, of 16 guns and 96 men; and soon after joined the fleet under Lord Nelson, on the Mediterranean station.

On the 12th Feb. 1804, Captain Parker, when in the act of reconnoitring Toulon, saw a French frigate coming round the island of Porquerolle. At first the enemy seemed inclined to fight; but on the approach of the Amazon, she ran under a press of sail through the Grande Passe, and took shelter under fort Breganson. Several of the ships in Toulon now swayed up their top-sail-yards, and had Captain Parker overtaken the frigate, would no doubt have come out, and thereby endangered the Amazon’s safety. Lord Nelson, in relating this affair to Earl St. Vincent says, “Your nephew has very much pleased me, as indeed he always does. * * * * I admire his spirit and resolution to attack her under all the disadvantages of situation: such conduct will some happy day meet its reward.” In a subsequent letter we find the following passage: “I have sent your nephew this morning (March 17, 1804,) to see if he can lay salt upon the tail of a French frigate; I every day see new and excellent traits in him”. 