Francis Mason (Royal Navy officer)

Sir Francis Mason
Born	10 February 1779 Bow, London
Died	27 May 1853 (aged 74)[1] Eastbourne, Sussex
Allegiance	Kingdom of Great Britain
Service / branch	Royal Navy
Years of service	1793–1843
Rank	Vice-Admiral
Commands	HMS Daphne HMS Fisgard HMS President HMS Blanche HMS Blonde South America Station Mediterranean Fleet
Battles / wars	French Revolutionary Wars Napoleonic Wars
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath

Vice-Admiral Sir Francis Mason KCB (10 February 1779 – 27 May 1853) was a senior Royal Navy officer who temporarily commanded the Mediterranean Fleet from October 1841 to April 1842.[2]

Naval career

Mason joined the Royal Navy on 23 May 1793. He took part in the action of 28 May 1794, the action of 29 May 1794 and the Glorious First of June. He was given command of the sloop HMS Rattler in December 1803. Promoted to post-captain he commanded, successively, the post ship HMS Daphne, in which he took part in the Walcheren Campaign in 1809, the fifth-rate HMS Fisgard, and the fifth-rate HMS President, in which he took part in the siege of San Sebastián in 1813. He went on to command, successively, the fifth-rate HMS Blanche and the fifth-rate HMS Blonde. He temporarily commanded the South America Station from July 1834 to September 1834 and temporarily commanded the Mediterranean Fleet from October 1841 to April 1842.[2][3] He retired as a Vice-admiral of the White.[4]

In 1805, he married the Hon. Selina Hood, daughter of Viscount Hood. They had 12 children.[2]

References

1. "Died". Brighton Gazette. 2 June 1853. p. 8. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
2. O'Byrne, William R. (1849). "Mason, Francis" . A Naval Biographical Dictionary. London: John Murray.
3. "Francis Mason (1779-?)". Three Decks. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
4. "Will of Sir Francis Mason, Vice Admiral of the White Squadron of Her Majesty's Fleet". National Archives. Retrieved 23 January 2023.