Original Naval Order Signed ‘Thos. Fra. Fremantle’, as Rear Admiral of the White, commanding the Adriatic, to William Hoste, Captain of H.M.Ship Bacchante, directing him to take under his orders the ships and vessels employed in the blockade of Corfu, the orders in force to be provided by Captain Taylor of HMS Apollo

Given on board the Milford, St George’s Harbour, Lissa, 19 December 1812. 1 page 12 x 8 inches, in fine clean condition, folds, docketed on integral blank leaf ‘Orders from Admiral Fremantle, Corfu. N.16’. A fine document combining two of Nelson’s captains. Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Fremantle (1765-1819), the Captain of HMS Neptune at Trafalgar, served with Hood and Nelson in the Mediterranean, distinguishing himself at Toulon in 1795, Leghorn and Elba in 1796, and Santa Cruz in 1797, when he was severely wounded. In command of H.M.S. Ganges he took a full part in the Battle of Copenhagen (1804). In May 1805 he was appointed to H.M.S. Neptune, which was the third ship in the weather line at the Battle of Trafalgar, the Temeraire alone coming between her and the Victory. Fremantle later commanded in the Adriatic, capturing Fiume in 1813 and Trieste in 1814. Captain Sir William Hoste (1780-1828) entered the navy under Nelson’s patronage. Hoste was one of the great frigate captains of the Napoleonic wars, taking part in six major actions, including the Battle of Lissa (1811).