Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v2p2.djvu/445

 In May, 1803, Captain Bolton acted as proxy for Lord Nelson at his installation as a K.B., and on that occasion received the honor of knighthood. He married his first cousin, Catherine, second daughter of the above mentioned Thomas Bolton, Esq. of Cranwich, Norfolk, (whose eldest son is presumptive heir to the Nelson Earldom). Agents.– Messrs Cooke, Halford, and Son. 

 officer is the eldest son of Charles Gordon, of Wardhouse, in Aberdeenshire, Esq. by a daughter of the late Major James Mercer, of Auchnacant, in the same county.

He appears to have entered the naval service about the commencement of the French revolutionary war, and to have had the honor of sharing in the partial action off Frejus, July 13, 1795; and the great battles of Feb. 14, 1797, and Aug. 1, 1798. In 1800, we find him serving as second Lieutenant of le Bourdelais, a post-ship, under the command of Captain Thomas Manby, by whom he was particularly mentioned as having signalized himself in an engagement already described. His conduct in other actions on the Jamaica station will be seen by the following letter from the late Captain Austin Bissell, of the Racoon brig, to the commander-in-chief, dated off that island, July 16, 1803:

“Sir,– I beg leave to acquaint you, that at 11-30 A.M. on the llth inst. while working between the island of Guanaba and St. Domingo, I observed a French national brig lying at anchor in Leogane roads, and I immediately bore up for her. On approaching I found her preparing to receive us with springs on her cables, &c. At 2-45 P.M. I anchored with springs, within thirty yards of the enemy, and immediately commenced an action, which was continued for 30 minutes, when she cut her cables and began to make off. I instantly cut and followed her; and, after about ten minutes more of well-directed fire, we so completely unrigged her that she struck her colours, and called out she had surrendered. We were obliged to anchor again immediately, to prevent driving on shore. She proves to be le Lodi, pierced for 20 guns, but had only 10 mounted, 