Is a son of the late Henry Walker Yeoman, Esq. (a gentleman possessed of considerable landed property in the neighbourhood of Whitby, co. York), by Anne, daughter of General John Hale, of the family of Hale, settled at King’s Walden, in Hertfordshire, His maternal great-grandfather was William Chaloner, of the Priory, Gisborough, co. York, Esq.; and one of his mother’s sisters is the wife of Lord Dundas.
This officer was born at Whitby, Aug 1st, 1792; and appears to have commenced his naval career, Oct. 1st, 1805, under the patronage of the Earl of Mulgrave, as midshipman on board the Quebec 32, Captain (now Rear-Admiral) the Hon. George H. L. Dundas; whom he followed into the Euryalus 36, and sailed with for the Mediterranean station early in 1806. The manner in which that frigate was employed between this period and the summer of 1811, has been stated in Vol. II. Part I. p. 421 et seq. and by referring to p. 320 of Suppl. Part III. the reader will perceive that Mr. Yeoman’s “good conduct” in a gallant and successful night attack, made by four boats upon two large Danish transports and a national vessel of two long 18-pounders and 64 men, moored within half pistol-shot of a three-gun battery and numerous troops on shore, June 11th, 1808, was “particularly mentioned by Lieutenant Head,” (who commanded on the occasion) and duly reported by Captain Dundas, whose official letter was gazetted.