Francis William Austen (II). [2]

Born July 12th 1809, at Alton.
From O'Byrne's Biographical Naval Dictionary:
This officer entered the Royal Naval College February 11th 1822; and embarked June 20th 1823 as a Volunteer on board the 'Revenge' of 78 guns, Capt. Sir Chas Burrard – flag-ship in the Mediterranean of Vice-Admiral Sir Harry Burrard-Neale. After officiating for nearly four years as Midshipman, on the same station, of the 'Seringapatam' of 46 guns and the 'Pelican' of 18 guns – Capts. Chas. Sotheby and Wm. Alex. Baillie Hamilton, under the former of whom he saw much anti-piratical boat service, Mr. Austen was appointed Mate, in August 1828, of the 'Blonde' of 46 guns – Capt. Edmund Lyons and during his continuance in the ship was employed on shore in cooperation with the French Army at the reduction of the Morea Castle, which surrendered after a siege of eight days.

Attaining the rank of Lieutenant April 30th 1830 he afterwards joined, in that capacity, on the North America and West Indian and African stations, November 22nd following the 'Gannet' of 18 guns – Capt. Mark Halpen Sweny, February 23rd 1832 the 'Tweed' of 20 guns – Capts. Allen Bertram and Henry Geo. Hamilton. October 12th 1835, as Senior, the 'Wanderer' of 16 guns – Capts. Thos. Dilke and Thos. Bushby – March 1st 1841, has Lieutenant Commander, the 'Bonetta' brigantine of 3 guns. While in the 'Tweed', of which, on the death of Capt. Bertram, he had the charge for three months, a period during which a fourth of the crew were swept away by yellow fever.

Mr Austen commanded her boats for the suppression of slavery of the Isle of Pines, and, on one occasion had the misfortune, through the bursting of a powder-horn, to lose the use of the fore-finger and thumb of his right hand.

On November 23rd 1841 he was advanced to the rank of Commander and on November 10th 1845 he was appointed to the 'Alecto' steam sloop of three 32-pounders and 80 men. Proceeding in her to the Rio de la Plata, Commander Austen soon joined in the hostilities against General Rosas. On February 10th 1846 he was engaged with the enemy's batteries at Tonelero, on the Parana, and had five men wounded and, on April 6th, while passing up the same river with three heavily-laden schooners in tow against a curtain of three knots and a head wind, he was for an hour and ten minutes in action, within musket range, with a battery of seven 18-pounders on the heights of San Lorenzo. His good conduct on this occasion was brought to the notice of the Commander-in-Chief, Rear-Admiral Inglefield, by Capt. Hotham, the senior officer in the Parana.

On June 4th in the same year the 'Alecto' formed part of the Anglo-French squadron which escorted a convoy of 110 vessels of all nations in comparative safety through the fire of from sixteen to twenty guns, brought together by General Rosas at San Lorenzo for the express purpose of obstructing their passage down the river.

For these services Commander Austen was gazetted for promotion, which took place as soon as he had completed his time, on November 11th 1846.
His next appointment was on January 21st 1850, to the 'Hastings' of 72 guns – as Flag-Captain to his uncle, Rear-Admiral C.T. Austen C.B., on the East India and China station.
In 1852 he succeeded in taking the 'Hastings' to Rangoon, on the Irrawaddy, where her boats were actively employed during the closing operations of the Burmese War.
He accompanied the Rear-Admiral to Prome in the East India Company's steam sloop 'Pluto' – the vessel on board which his uncle, Admiral Austen, died on October 7th 1852.
The 'Hastings' was paid off on May 5th 1853.
Captain Austen received the India General Service medal, 1854 – with bar 'Pegu.'

He married, July 13th 1843, his cousin Frances Palmer, third daughter of his uncle, Rear-Admiral Charles John Austen C.B.
She died in 1882.
Frances Palmer Austen

He died December 13th 1858, at the age of 49 – having had no issue.
Francis William Austen

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