Lot Essay
Ex Greg Collection, 1887.
The published Naval General Service Medal rolls confirm Joseph Magin as a Lieutenant aboard the Scipion for the Java operations of July to September 1811.
Commander Joseph Magin entered the Royal Navy as a First Class Volunteer aboard the Princess Royal in April 1800, but quickly removed to two other seagoing appointments prior to joining the Seagull as a Midshipman in the course of 1803. In this latter ship he participated in 'a running fight of 12 hours which terminated in the capture, although not without loss, of the East Indiaman Lord Nelson' (O'Byrne refers). Transferring to the Amphion in late 1804, Magin was next in action in November of the following year, when that ship 'effected the defeat, notwithstanding that she was simultaneously opposed by the fire of an immense Battery, of a Division of about 30 Spanish Gunboats which had come out of Algeciras in the hope of capturing a British Convoy' (O'Byrne refers). Then on 26.9.1806, having passed his examination and joined the Repulse, he witnessed the capture of the French Frigate Le President.
Still aboard the Repulse, he participated in the passage of the Dardanelles, and on the occasion of an attack being made on the Turkish Squadron at Point Pesquies, Magin 'volunteered and proceeded with two boats under Lieutenant Kidd for the purpose of setting fire to the Admiral's ship. During the stay of the party between decks, the boats, owing to the blaze which had speedily resulted from their exertions, were under the necessity of putting off; in consequence whereof, the Lieutenant and his companions were compelled to jump overboard, and were picked up when the ship exploded. On arrival home, Mr. Magin, in consideration of a wound he had received in the operations, was presented by the Patriotic Society with a gratuity of £30' (O'Byrne refers).
Advanced to Lieutenant in January 1808, Magin was appointed to the Sloop Apelles in October of the same year and in her served in the Walcheren Expedition. During these operations he commanded the boats at the cutting out of a vessel from under a very severe fire of the enemy's Batteries at Etaples. Next appointed to the Scipion, Flagship of the Hon. Robert Stopford, he co-operated in the operations leading to the reduction of Java. This appears to have been Magin's penultimate seagoing appointment, and he 'came ashore' in late 1813. He was advanced to Commander in September 1844.
The published Naval General Service Medal rolls confirm Joseph Magin as a Lieutenant aboard the Scipion for the Java operations of July to September 1811.
Commander Joseph Magin entered the Royal Navy as a First Class Volunteer aboard the Princess Royal in April 1800, but quickly removed to two other seagoing appointments prior to joining the Seagull as a Midshipman in the course of 1803. In this latter ship he participated in 'a running fight of 12 hours which terminated in the capture, although not without loss, of the East Indiaman Lord Nelson' (O'Byrne refers). Transferring to the Amphion in late 1804, Magin was next in action in November of the following year, when that ship 'effected the defeat, notwithstanding that she was simultaneously opposed by the fire of an immense Battery, of a Division of about 30 Spanish Gunboats which had come out of Algeciras in the hope of capturing a British Convoy' (O'Byrne refers). Then on 26.9.1806, having passed his examination and joined the Repulse, he witnessed the capture of the French Frigate Le President.
Still aboard the Repulse, he participated in the passage of the Dardanelles, and on the occasion of an attack being made on the Turkish Squadron at Point Pesquies, Magin 'volunteered and proceeded with two boats under Lieutenant Kidd for the purpose of setting fire to the Admiral's ship. During the stay of the party between decks, the boats, owing to the blaze which had speedily resulted from their exertions, were under the necessity of putting off; in consequence whereof, the Lieutenant and his companions were compelled to jump overboard, and were picked up when the ship exploded. On arrival home, Mr. Magin, in consideration of a wound he had received in the operations, was presented by the Patriotic Society with a gratuity of £30' (O'Byrne refers).
Advanced to Lieutenant in January 1808, Magin was appointed to the Sloop Apelles in October of the same year and in her served in the Walcheren Expedition. During these operations he commanded the boats at the cutting out of a vessel from under a very severe fire of the enemy's Batteries at Etaples. Next appointed to the Scipion, Flagship of the Hon. Robert Stopford, he co-operated in the operations leading to the reduction of Java. This appears to have been Magin's penultimate seagoing appointment, and he 'came ashore' in late 1813. He was advanced to Commander in September 1844.