Posted by Tim Oakley on Sunday 3rd of September 2017 18:28

Robert Mann (c.1748 – 20 September 1813) was promoted to rear-admiral of the blue on 4 July 1794 and raised his flag aboard the 74-gun HMS Defence. He soon transferred his flag to the 74-gun HMS Cumberland and sailed from Portsmouth in March 1795, through the strait of Gibraltar to reinforce the Mediterranean Fleet under Admiral Sir William Hotham off the east coast of Minorca. Mann was promoted to rear-admiral of the white on 1 June 1795. After cruising for a short time, the British anchored in St. Fiorenzo Bay on 29 June and refitted their ships. Mann transferred his flag to the 100-gun HMS Victory on 7 July and took part in the Battle of Hyères Islands on 13 July 1795. Victory suffered considerable damage, having had her stays shot away, as well as much of the rigging. He transferred his flag to the 98-gun HMS Windsor Castle in December 1795. He was given command of a detached squadron in 1796 and sailed to Gibraltar with seven ships to watch the French fleet at anchor at Cadiz under Admiral Joseph de Richery.

Posted by Tim Oakley on Sunday 3rd of September 2017 06:24

27 Oct 1800 Portsmouth a Court-Martial was held on board the Gladiator for the trial of John Brown, a private marine belonging to the Cumberland for writing a disrespectful letter reflecting on the conduct of Captain Gardiner, of the Marines, and Captain Growes, and on William Dean, and Thomas Taylor, private marines, for abetting and advising the said John Brown in his libellous and seditious conduct, and for endeavouring to propagate the same disrespectful spirit amongst the ship's company. The charges being proved against the prisoners, Brown was sentenced to receive 100 lashes, and the two others 50 lashes each.