Obtained the rank of lieutenant May 24, 1805, and was badly wounded whilst serving as first of the Carnation brig, Captain Charles Mars Gregory, in a most disastrous action with la Palineur, a French vessel of inferior force, about 60 leagues N.E. of Martinique, Oct. 3, 1808.
“At the end of an hour and a half’s cannonade,” says Mr. James, “la Palineur, being greatly disabled in her rigging, fell on board the Carnation. In common cases this would have been the moment for the British vessel to terminate the contest in her favor; but the Carnation was not so fortunate: her gallant commander was dead, and all her principal officers and several of her crew had been either killed or badly wounded ; so that the boatswain, William Triplet, was now the commanding officer on deck. Finding that the British were not, as usual, ready to run on board their vessel, the French took confidence, and became themselves the assailants. The boatswain advanced boldly to repulse the boarders; but, of the 40 or 50 men then on deck, not more than 8 or 10 came to his support. The remainder, headed by the serjeant of marines, John Chapman, deserted their quarters and fled below. The consequence was, that the Carnation became a prize to la Palineur, and that too by boarding.”