Xerox copy of a typed transcript of the memoir of Captain Thomas Huskisson, written in 1836. It covers the early part of his career at sea from 1800 to 1809, including an account of the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Some related images (12 pages) are included. The memoir formed the basis of the book 'Eyewitness to Trafalgar', published by Ellisons' Editions, Orwell, Cambridgeshire, in 1985.

The memoir begins with a description of Huskisson’s unhappy service on the sloop HMS BEAVER (1795), and criticism of her captain, Christopher Basset Jones. He then gives an account of a voyage to Egypt on HMS ROMNEY (1762), under the command of Captain Sir Home R. Popham. During the Battle of Trafalgar Huskisson was a midshipman stationed on the poop of HMS DEFENCE (1763), witnessing the capture of the Spanish ship ST DEFONSO and the surrender of her commanding officer’s sword to Captain George J. Hope. The memoir then covers Huskisson’s service on HMS FOUDROYANT (1798), flagship of Vice-Admiral Sir John B. Warren, from 1805 to 1806; on HMS PRINCE OF WALES (1794) under Lord Gambier during the expedition to Copenhagen in 1807; and his early commands including the schooner HMS FLEUR DE LA MER (purchased 1808) in the West Indies.

Administrative / biographical background
Thomas Huskisson was the half-brother of the politician William Huskisson (1770-1830). He was born near Wolverhampton in 1784 and entered the Royal Navy in 1800. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in 1806, commander in 1809 and captain in 1811. In 1827 his brother appointed him paymaster of the Navy and after this post was abolished in 1830 he became one of the captains of the Royal Naval Hospital, Greenwich. He died at Greenwich in 1844.