Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v4p2.djvu/495

  the third son of Thomas Mansell, Esq. of Guernsey, and was born in that island on the 9th Feb. 1777. He entered the royal navy, as midshipman on board the Crescent frigate. Captain (now Lord De) Saumarez, in Feb. 1793; and served under that highly distinguished officer during the greater part of the wars occasioned by the French revolution. On the 20th Oct. 17913, he assisted at the capture of the republican frigate Ré-Union, near Cherbourg, after a close action of two hours and ten minutes; and subsequently, of two privateers in the Bay of Biscay. In December following, he accompanied an expedition under Earl Moira and Rear-Admiral M‘Bride to the coasts of Normandy and Brittany ; and on the 8th June 1794, we find him in action with an enemy’s squadron of very superior force, from which the Crescent escaped by most bold and masterly manoeuvres, as will be seen by reference to our memoir of her gallant and skilful commander.

Mr. Mansell afterwards followed Sir James Saumarez into the Orion 74, of which ship he was master’s-mate in Lord Bridport’s action near l’Orient, June 23d, 1795; at the defeat of the Spanish fleet off Cape St. Vincent, Feb. 14th, 1797, on which occasion he was wounded; and at the ever-memorable battle of the Nile, Aug. 1st, 1798. For his uniform good conduct on those occasions, he was so strongly recommended by Sir James Saumarez, that, previous to his completing the usual period of service as a petty officer, the immortal Nelson was pleased to appoint him an acting lieutenant. He returned home in l’Aquilon 74, one of the prizes taken in Aboukir Bay, and was confirmed in his rank by an Admiralty commission dated April 17th, 1799. We next find him serving on board the Impregnable 98, Captain