1774 - 1865

 

Unlike his brothers, Francis (known as Frank), pursued a career in the navy, graduating from the Royal Naval Academy at Postsmouth in 1786. Frank had a successful career in the navy, reaching the position of Admiral of the Fleet in 1863. 

 

Although Jane doesn't touch explicitly on the French Revolution or the Napoleonic Wars, Frank played a part in both. In 1860, he was presented with Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath. Admiral Nelson considered Frank to be "an excellent young man". 

 

It is thought by some that Frank's early promotions were due to the patronage of Warren Hastings, a friend of the family and father of his cousin and later sister in law Eliza de Feuillide. 

 

Frank married Mary Gibson in 1806, having eight children. Due to the nature of Frank's career, he only saw his family occasionally but Jane and Cassandra were fond of Mary and they kept her company on occasion when Frank was at sea. Following the death of his wife, he married family friend Martha Lloyd in 1828.