Captain and Commodore
He had no appointment in the Royal Navy until 1858, when he was sent out to China to take command of the Tribune frigate and convey a body of marines to Vancouver Island, where the dispute with the United States about the San Juan Islands was threatening to become very bitter. As senior naval officer there Hornby's moderation, temper and tact did much to smooth over matters, and a temporary arrangement for joint occupation of the island was concluded. He afterwards commanded the Neptune in the Mediterranean under Sir William Fanshawe Martin, was flag-captain to Rear-Admiral Sydney Dacres in the Channel, was commodore of the squadron on the west coast of Africa, and, being promoted to rear-admiral in January 1869, commanded the flying squadron for a couple of years.
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Famous quotes containing the word captain:
“John Gilpin was a citizen
Of credit and renown,
A train-band captain eke was he
Of famous London town.”
—William Cowper (1731–1800)