moted to the rank of rear-admiral August 1, 1811; and advanced to that of vice-admiral August 12, 1819. WOLSELEY, Adm. William, was made a post captain September 14, 1782. Capt. Wolseley commanded L'Imperieuse, of 40 guns, and particularly distinguished himself at the reduction of St. Fiorenzo, Bastia, and Calvi. He was promoted to the rank of rear-admiral April 23, 1804, advanced to that of vice-admiral October 25, 1809, and attained the rank of a full admiral August 12, 1819. See CORSICA. WOOD, Rear-Adm. Sir James Athol, C. B., third son of Mr. Alexander Wood, of Perth, in North Britain, was born in the year 1760. In 1776 he served on shore, at the defence of Quebec, with a party of seamen; and in 1778 he went out as an acting lieutenant in Adm. Byron's flag-ship, the Princess Royal. He was afterwards placed in the Renown, Capt. Dawson, as first lieutenant, and after continuing about two years on the coast of America, during which he was engaged in a great variety of service, he returned to England. He was second lieutenant on board the Anson, on the glorious 12th of April 1782, and became first, in consequence of his friend Capt. Blair, who commanded that ship, being killed. He was in the Boyne, Adm. Sir John Jervis, 1794, at the capture of Martinique; afterwards sailed with the cartel ships, having prisoners on board, and unfortunately arrived at St. Maloes during the sanguinary government of Robespierre. The ships were seized, and Lieut. Wood thrown into prison. A considerable period elapsed before he obtained his liberty; and soon after his arrival in England he was made master and cominander, appointed to the Favourite sloop of war, and sent to the West Indies there, by his active and zealous exertions in the destruction of French cruisers and privateers, he rendered most important service to our trade. He suggested to Adm. Harvey, and Sir Ralph Abercromby, the easy conquest of the important settlement of Trinidad; and after its capture, in which he participated, Adm. Harvey promoted him to the command of the San Damaso, of 74 guns. His post commission was confirmed by the Admiralty March 27, 1797. On returning to England he was appointed to the Garland frigate, then employed at the Cape of Good Hope, under Adm. Christian. Having reached that settlement, he was sent upon a cruise off the islands of Mauritius and Bourbon; and so high an opinion did Sir H. Christian entertain of his abilities, as a seaman and navigator, that he placed his own son and several other young gentlemen under his immediate care in the Garland. He was afterwards shipwrecked on the coast of Madagascar; but the crew were saved, and after remaining on the island five or six months, were relieved from their unpleasant situation, by the arrival of an English ship, sent by Adm. Christian to obtain information respecting the fate of the Garland. On Capt. Wood's return to England he was appointed to the Acasta frigate, and joined Adm. Cornwallis, off Brest. After two years arduous service on this station, he went to the West Indies. In the expedition against Curaçoa, which surrendered January 1, 1807, Capt. Wood was second in command, and next in seniority to Capt. Brisbane. They were each presented with a gold medal upon the occasion, and also received the honours of knighthood. Capt. Sir James A. Wood was afterwards employed in blockading the Danish Islands, which surrendered in December 1807. He was after wards wards employed in the Captain, of 74 guns, at the blockade and cap, ture of Martinique, in February 1809; soon after which he was removed into the Neptune, of 98 guns, and returned to England. About the month of November 1809, he again proceeded to the West Indies, where he continued actively employed until the summer of 1816. WOOLDRIDGE, Capt. James. See BASQUE ROADS. WOOLSEY, Capt. William. See JAMAICA STATION, April 15, 1805. WRIGHT, Capt. John, was born at Cork, in Ireland. His father was Capt. James Wright, paymaster of the sixth royal vete ran battalion. In 1794 Mr. Wright served as midshipman and secretary in the Diamond, of 38 guns, Capt. Sir Sidney Smith, The enterprising spirit of Sir Sidney Smith had been successfully exerted against the enemy, until April 18, 1796, when having, on a reconnoitring expedition off Havre de Grace, captured the Vengeur French lugger privateer, with the boats of his little squadron, he was driven by a strong set of the tide above the forts. Sir Sidney and his prize were discovered by the enemy in the morning; the alarm was given, and he was attacked by such a superior force, that resistance was found utterly unavailable, and he was compelled to surrender himself and his company, among whom was Mr. Wright, prisoners of war. He was afterwards, in 1804, appointed to the sloop Vincejo, and made a second time prisoner, of which the following is the substance of an account in a letter, dated May 14, 1804. In cruising between the Loire and L'Orient, on the evening of May 4, he discovered a large ship corvette at the entrance of the latter place, apparently ready for sea, and learning from a neutral that her force was eighteen long 18-pounders, and 160 men, and her destination eastward, with a convoy of thirty sail, he proceeded in that direction to intercept her. He contínued to watch her motions, and endeavour to bring her to action; when at daylight on the 8th the ship was becalmed close to the mouth of the river, and carried by the ebb tide, in less than an hour, so near to the Taignouse Rocks, that he was forced to anchor to avoid them, to sound, and warp into the fair channel. By the time this was accomplished, and all hands placed at the sweeps, she was pursued by a large division of the enemy's flotilla, which had been perceived rowing out of the Morbihan, soon after she anchored. By half-past eight o'clock the enemy had advanced within extreme range, and opened their fire: they continued rapidly gaining upon the ship, until about half-past nine, when they were so near, that Capt. Wright was compelled to sweep her broadside to, and engage under the greatest possible disadvantages; a perfect calm, a strong flood tide making against him, the people fatigued by hard labour at the oar, and divided during the action, between the larboard guns and the starboard sweeps. This unequal contest was maintained with great animation, and with frequent cheers, by the weak but gallant Vincejo's crew, for nearly two hours, within grape and hailing distance: her hull, masts, yards, and rigging, had been much injured; three guns were disabled; the fire was slackened, notwithstanding every effort to revive it, to one gun in about five minutes, by the booms falling upon the main deck, and the flower of her men being killed or wounded." In this painful situation," says the captain," without a chance of escape, or hope of succour, closely pressed in a dead calm, by seventeen gun-vessels, advancing to board with numerous troops-with a crew reduced to fifty efficient officers and seamen, including seventeen boys, I might still perhaps have opposed a momentary, though vain resistance to such superior force, but I felt it a duty I owed my country, to surrender in time, to preserve the lives of my brave men for some better occasion. "Of the conduct of my officers and ship's company in general, their lordships will form an adequate opinion, from the superiority of the enemy, compared with the length of the action; the retrospect of which affords me consolation in misfortune, as it presents little to blame, and much to commend and admire: but it is a pleasing duty of mine to particularize the active intrepidity and intelligent bravery of Lieuts. Wallis and Hall, and the distinguished gallantry and uncommon energy of Mr. Lewis, acting boatswain, whose death I lament as a severe loss to the service. To these officers, and the small draft of seamen I received from the Utrecht, is greatly to be attributed the obstinacy of a conflict, in which I trust it will appear, that the honour of the country, and the reputation of the navy, have been supported to the utmost of our power. "Mr. Hiller, the master, and the warrant and petty officers in general, acquitted themselves of their duty in the action, to my perfect satisfaction. I annex an account of the enemy's force, a list of my ship's company at the commencement of the action, and a return of the killed and wounded, distinguishing by an asterisk against their names, those whose conduct justly recommends the survivors, and families of the deceased, as worthy objects of national munificence and remuneration. "Pointed out by my public services as a peculiar object of the resentment of an ungenerous and ungrateful enemy, I must beg leave to recommend to your humanity the trouble of laying the claims of those unfortunate men before the national committee.". The Vincejo's establishment was officers and petty officers 33; able seaman 36; marines 14; young gentlemen 3; boys 10: total 96. Her actual company in the action of May 8, was 90; 26 unfit for service; 2 killed, 12 wounded; 51 effective 24 boys. The enemy's force in guns was 35; men about 140. Unfortunately for the reputation of the rulers of that day in France, it remains a questionable point, whether they or he terminated his captivity by death, which happened between October 27 and 28, 1804. Y. He YEO, Com. Sir James Lucas. This gallant officer, the son of James Yeo, esq., formerly agent-victualler at Minorca, was born in 1782, and from his youth aspired after the naval service. was fully gratified in this wish while almost a child, by being placed on the quarter-deck of the Windsor Castle, on board of which the flag of the late Adm. Cosby was then flying. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant when only fifteen years of age: he was subsequently detached by Capt. F. L. Maitland, then commanding the Loire, against some of the enemy's vessels which had taken refuge in the port of El Muros, on the coast of Spain. He commenced by storming the fort, captured and brought off all the vessels. For this exploit he was immediately promoted to the rank of commander, and appointed to the Confiance, one of the little captured captured flotilla. After this, he proceeded against the French settlement of Cayenne, where he conducted himself with his wonted gallantry and success, which procured him the rank of post captain, and that of knight commander of St. Benito d'Aviso, from the Prince Regent of Portugal. Having now established a character for boldness and enterprise, Capt. Yeo was invested with the command on the Lakes in North America. In consequence of the gross misconduct or imbecility of Gen. Sir George Prevost, in the affair upon Lake Champlain, on September 11, 1814, he preferred charges against him; but death saved the general from a trial. An atrophy, produced by the ardent temperament of Capt. Yeo's mind, superadded to the daily exertions of his body, induced a general debility, which cut him off in the prime of life, usefulness, and glory, at the age of thirtyeight. He was brought home in the Semiramis, and interred in September 1818, in the garrison chapel of Portsmouth, amidst the naval and military honours due to his rank and exalted merits. See CAYENNE, ONTARIO, and CHAMPLAIN LAKE. YORKE, Vice-Adm. Sir Joseph Sydney, K. C. B., was born in June 1768, and entered the naval service in 1780. After serving with great credit as midshipman, lieutenant, and commander, he was promoted to the rank of post captain in the Circe, of 28 guns, on February 4, 1793, and was removed into the Stag, a new frigate, of 32 guns, in July 1794. In May 1793 he captured L'Auguste and La Didon, two French privateers, of 18 and 14 guns; and on November 30, assisted in taking L'Espiegle French sloop, of 16 guns, near Ushant. The Stag was employed on the home station; and on August 22, 1795, in the North Sea, captured the Alliance Dutch frigate, of 36 guns and 240 men, between 40 and 50 of whom were killed and wounded. The Stag had 4 men k. and 13 w. Capt. Yorke cruised with considerable success against the enemy's armed and trading vessels, until the month of February 1800, when he was removed into the Jason, of 36 guns; and on November 19, sailed with a convoy to the Cape of Good Hope, from whence he returned in the following month of January. In May 1801 he was appointed to the Canada, of 74 guns, belonging to the Channel fleet, where he continued until the conclusion of the war. That ship was put out of commission in May 1802. In the month of May 1803, Capt. Yorke was appointed to the Queen, of 98 guns, and soon after removed into the Prince George, of the same force, attached to the Channel fleet, in which ship he remained until February 1805. His next appointment was to the Barfleur, 98, in January 1806, attached also to the Channel fleet, which ship he quitted in June 1807. In April 1808 he was appointed to the Christian VII. of 80 guns, where he remained until June 1810, when he was appointed to a seat at the Board of Admiralty. On July 31 he was promoted to the rank of rear-admiral; and in the month of January following he hoisted his flag in the Victory, of 100 guns, and proceeded to Lisbon, with a strong squadron, and a large body of troops to reinforce Lord Wellington's army. In March he shifted his flag into the Vengeur, 74, and in the following month struck it. On June 4, 1814, he was advanced to the rank of vice-admiral, and January 2, 1815, nominated a K. C. B. He resigned his seat at the Admiralty Board in the early part of 1818. See HOME STATION, August 22, 1795. YOUNGHUSBAND, Capt. George. See LEEWARD ISLAND STATION, March 23, 1804. PART AN ACCOUNT OF ALL THE SHIPS OF THE FRENCH, DUTCH, SPANISH, DANISH, RUSSIAN, TURKISH, AMERICAN, AND BRITISH NAVIES, LOST, TAKEN, OR DESTROYED, DURING THE WAR FROM 1793 TO ITS CONCLUSION IN 1801, SECTION I. FRENCH NATIONAL SHIPS, LOST, TAKEN, OR DESTROYED. Those to which this Mark (*) is affixed, are, or have been, in the British service: the names are the same as when captured, unless otherwise mentioned. 1793. LE LEOPARD, 74: lost in the Bay of Cagliari, Sardinia, February 15. LE VENGEUR, 74: run ashore and lost, near Ajaccio, Corsica, LE GELAN, 14: taken by the Penelope, 36, B. S. Rowley, Jamaica Station, April 16. LA PROMPTE, 20: taken by the Phaeton, 38, Sir A. S. Douglas, off the coast of Spain, May 28. LE CURIEUX, (bg.) 14: taken by the Inconstant, 36, A. Montgomery, West Indies, June 3. LE VANNEAU, 6: taken by the Colossus, 74, C. M. Pole, in the Bay of Biscay, June 6. Afterwards in the British service, and lost in November 1796. See Section VIII. LA CLEOPATRE, (since L'Oiseau, 36) 40: taken by La Nymphe, 36, E. Pellew, off the Start. *L'ECLAIR, 22: taken by the Leda, 32, G. Campbell, Mediterranean, June 9. LUTINE, (slp.) 12: taken by the Pluto, 14, J. N. Morris, Newfoundland, July 25. LA CONVENTION NATIONALE, (sch.) 10: taken by Com. Ford's squadron, St. Domingo, in September. Afterwards named Marie Antoinette, in the British service, and run away with by the crew in the West Indies, 1797. See Section VIII. LA MODESTE, 36: (since 38) taken by the Bedford, 74, R. Man, and others, out of Genoa, in the Mediterranean, Oc tober 17. LA REUNION, 36: taken by the Crescent, 36, J. Saumarez, off Cherbourg, October 20. L'INCONSTANTE, 36: taken by the Penelope, 36, B. S. Rowley, and Iphigenia, 32, P. Sinclair, in the Bight of Leogane, St. Domingo, November 25. Afterwards taken into the British service, |