Frank Austen's Family
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Francis William Austen [2]continued.
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 ...
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