Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v4p1.djvu/219

 a commander on the 6th June, 1814; and died Sept. 27th, 1822, at Wilet-Medinet, a day’s journey from Sennaar, in Africa, whence he was proceeding in an attempt to reach the source of the Bahr Colittiad. 



made a lieutenant in June 1799; appointed first of the San Juan sheer-hulk, bearing the broad pendant of Commodore Penrose, at Gibraltar, about Aug. 1810; and promoted to the command of the Rolla sloop, June 7th, 1814. 



wounded in an action with the Cadiz flotilla, while serving as master’s-mate of the Barfleur 98, July 3d, 1797. He obtained the rank of lieutenant on the 11th Dec. 1799; and distinguished himself, on several occasions, while serving as first of the Arethusa frigate, Captain Robert Mends, on the north coast of Spain, in 1809 and 1810. From among that officer’s public letters, we select the following:

“H.M.S. Arethusa, off Bilboa, Mar. 20th, 1809.

“Sir,– I have the pleasure of acquainting you, for the commander-in-Chief’s information, that on the 15th instant, at day-break, a party of seamen and marines belonging to this ship, landed under the command of the first lieutenant, Mr. Hugh Pearson, and Lieutenant Scott, R.M., and destroyed upwards of twenty heavy guns, mounted on the batteries at Lequito, defended by a detachment of French soldiers, a serjeant and twenty of whom were made prisoners, who, on our people forcing the guard-house in the principal battery, threw down their arms, and begged for quarter: the rest of their comrades effected their escape by running for it.

“This little affair was conducted by Lieutenant Pearson, with that boldness and promptitude which generally command success, and to which I attribute our having only three men wounded, notwithstanding a quick fire of musketry for some time from the battery and guard-house, as our people advanced. A small vessel, laden with brandy, was found in the harbour and brought away.

