To Cassandra, from Rowling, "So-his royal Highness Sir Thomas Williams has at length sailed-; the Papers say "on a Cruize." But I hope they are gone to Cork, or I shall have written in vain." - Jane Austen, Thursday 15- Friday 16 September 1796
Sir Thomas Williams was Captain of the HMS Unicorn at the time of this letter; they were based out of Cork, Ireland. Charles Austen, Jane Austen's youngest brother, was serving on this ship under Captain Williams. Captain Williams was married to Jane Cooper Williams, (29 June 1771 to 9 August 1798). Jane Cooper Williams was a cousin to the Austen siblings through her mother, Jane Leigh Austen, who was Jane Austen's mother, Cassandra Leigh Austen's sister.
Sir Charles Austen
Charles Austen
Rear Admiral Charles Austen
As a side note, a quote in Jane Austen, a Family Record by Deidre Le Faye and William Austen Leigh, "At midsummer 1796 news was received of a thrilling naval action in which Charles had participated, under Capt Thomas Williams in the 32-gun frigate HMS Unicorn. While crusing off the Scully Isles on 8 June they intercepted three French ships; one of these, the 44-gun La Tribune, tried to escape, but the Unicorn kept up a running fight for ten hours before closing for a brief and decisive battle, in which La Tribune was dismasted and captured. The chase had extended over 210 miles and Capt Williams crew had suffered no injury despite the fact that the unicorn was out-gunned by La Tribune. As soon as the Unicorn returned to port with her prize, Capt Williams received the honour of knighthood, so that Mrs. Austen's niece was now Lady Williams and Jane was moved to refer to her cousin's husband as 'his royal Highness Sir Thomas Williams', in one of her letters written a few weeks later in September."
Charles Austen had an illustrious career. He has his own wikipedia page.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Austen
I hope you have a good day,
Terrie
As a side note, a quote in Jane Austen, a Family Record by Deidre Le Faye and William Austen Leigh, "At midsummer 1796 news was received of a thrilling naval action in which Charles had participated, under Capt Thomas Williams in the 32-gun frigate HMS Unicorn. While crusing off the Scully Isles on 8 June they intercepted three French ships; one of these, the 44-gun La Tribune, tried to escape, but the Unicorn kept up a running fight for ten hours before closing for a brief and decisive battle, in which La Tribune was dismasted and captured. The chase had extended over 210 miles and Capt Williams crew had suffered no injury despite the fact that the unicorn was out-gunned by La Tribune. As soon as the Unicorn returned to port with her prize, Capt Williams received the honour of knighthood, so that Mrs. Austen's niece was now Lady Williams and Jane was moved to refer to her cousin's husband as 'his royal Highness Sir Thomas Williams', in one of her letters written a few weeks later in September."
Charles Austen had an illustrious career. He has his own wikipedia page.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Austen
I hope you have a good day,
Terrie
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