Francis Holmes Coffin, Esq., Rear Admiral

Francis Holmes Coffin Date of Entry into the Navy April 26 1782 Lieutenant 13 July 1791 Commander 23 Aug 1797 Commander 29 April 1802 Rear Admiral 1837 Re-Activated Rear Admiral 17 Aug 1840

FRANCIS HOLMES COFFIN Esq This officer obtained a Lieutenant's commission in 1791 and distinguished himself when serving on shore with a detachment of seamen at the reduction of the Cape of Good Hope by the naval and military forces under the orders of Sir George Keith Elphinstone and Major General Craig but more particularly on the 8th Aug 1795 when the Dutch Commandant endeavoring to regain a position wrested from him on the preceding day drew out his whole force from Cape town together with eight pieces of cannon On that occasion says the Major General Captain Hardy and Lieutenant Coffin crossed the water with the seamen and marines under their command received the enemy's fire without returning a shot and maneuvered with a regularity that would not have discredited veteran troops Lieutenant Coffin at that time belonging to the Rattlesnake sloop of war was afterwards removed to the Monarch of 74 guns bearing the flag of the commander in chief by whom he was employed as the bearer of the correspondence between himself and the Dutch Rear Admiral Lucas relative to the surrender of a squadron belonging to the Batavian republic in Saldanda Bay Captain Coffin's post commission bears date April 29 1802 He had previously commanded the Sphynx sloop of war on the Cape station and held an appointment in the Sea Fencible service During the late war he was appointed to command a portion of the same corps at Tralee in Ireland and after its dissolution we find him serving in the Arethusa frigate on the Jamaica station (war of 1812)

Agents Messrs Maude

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