Bernard Yeoman, Esq.

BERNARD YEOMAN, Esq.

Acasta Lieutenant under Capt. Kerr, 6 Feb. 1812, aged 20 years.

Is a son of the late Henry Walker Yeoman, Esq. (a gentleman possessed of considerable landed property in the neighbourhood of Whitby, co. York), by Anne, daughter of General John Hale, of the family of Hale, settled at King's Walden, in Hertfordshire. His maternal great-grandfather was William Chaloner, of the Priory, Gisborough, co. York, Esq.; and one of his mother's sisters, is the wife of Lord Dundas.

This officer was born at Whitby, Aug 1st, 1792; and appears to have commenced his naval career, Oct. 1st, 1805, under the patronage of the Earl of Mulgrave, as midshipman on board the Quebec 32, Captain (now Rear-Admiral) the Hon. George H. L. Dundas; whom he followed into the Euryalus 36, and sailed with for the Mediterranean station early in 1806. The manner in which that frigate was employed between this period and the summer of 1811, has been stated in Vol. II. Part I. p. 421 et seq.; and by referring to p. 320 of Suppl. Part III. the reader will perceive that Mr. Yeoman's "good conduct" in a gallant and successful night attack, made by four boats upon two large Danish transports and a national vessel of two long 18-pounders and 64 men, moored within half pistol-shot of a three-gun battery and numerous troops on shore, June 11th, 1808, was "particularly mentioned by Lieutenant Head," (who commanded on the occasion) and duly reported by Captain Dundas, whose official letter was gazetted.

On the 6th Feb. 1812, Mr. Yeoman was promoted into the Acasta frigate, Captain Alexander Robert Kerr, under whom he served as lieutenant on the North American station, and was most actively employed in annoying the enemy's coast and trade. His commission as commander bears date June 15th, 1815. In Sept. 1818, he was appointed to the Britomart sloop; and on the 5th Dec. following, to the Wolf; which latter vessel formed part of the royal escort when his late Majesty visited Ireland, in the year 1821. Whilst thus employed, Commander Yeoman had the distinguished honor of frequently dining with the King, on board his yacht; and when at Dublin, he lived with the household, attended the monarch to all public places which he visited, and was in fact considered as forming part of the royal suite ; yet, strange to say, a Junior as well as a senior commander of the same squadron, received immediate promotion for that service; whereas he was soon afterwards paid off, and not advanced to the rank of captain until July 22d, 1830.

Source: NAVAL BIOGRAPHY; OR, Memoirs of the Services OF ALL THE FLAG-OFFICERS, SUPERANNUATED REAR-ADMIRALS, RETIRED CAPTAINS, POST CAPTAINS,  AND COMMANDERS, Whose Names appeared on the Admiralty List of Sea-Officers at the commencement of the year 1823, or who have since been promoted; Illustrated by a Series of HISTORICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES, Which will be found to contain an account of all the NAVAL ACTIONS, AND OTHER IMPORTANT EVENTS, FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE LATE REIGN, IN 1760, TO THE PRESENT PERIOD. WITH COPIOUS ADDENDA. 

By John Marshall (B), Lieutenant in the Royal Navy.

Vol III - Part II. London: Printed for Longman, Rees Orme, Brown and Green, Paternoster Row. 1832.