X 



Mr. Key was promoted to the rank of Commander on the day of the 

 action at Obligado — viz., the 18th of November, 1845. 



Commander Key's next service was in command of the " Bnll Dog," 

 from 1847 to 1850, with the Mediterranean Fleet, under the late 

 Admiral Sir William Parker, Bart. During the Sicilian Revolution 

 of 1848 he was despatched for the protection of British subjects at 

 Palermo, where by his energy and tact the Neapolitan troops were 

 prevented from attacking the English quarter of the city ; he was 

 afterwards sent on a delicate mission to Civita Vecchia, and placed 

 his ship at the disposal of the Pope should it have become necessary 

 for him to embark from his dominions — Home being in a very dis- 

 tuibad state. His Holiness, however, from A^arious causes decided to 

 escape by land to Gaeta, which he did in disguise. 



Commander Key's services were so highly appreciated by the Com- 

 mander-in-Chief on these occasions that he was especially recom- 

 mended, and was promoted to the rank of Captain in 1850. 



Captain Key next served in command of the " Amphion " during 

 the Baltic Campaign of 1854, when he took part in the capture of 

 the forts of Bomarsund, and other operations. 



In 1855 he was appointed to the command of the " Sans Pareil" 

 screw line-of-battle-ship, and was one of the Captains selected to 

 command a flotilla of gun- and mortar-boats then preparing for the 

 attack on Cronstadt, in the summer of that year ; in the meantime, 

 however, peace was concluded with Russia, when for his services 

 during the war he was nominated a C.B. 



On the breaking out of the Indian Mutiny, in 1857, be was sent in 

 the " Sans Pareil " with a squadron of gunboats to Calcutta, and for 

 his services there received the thanks of the Indian Government. 



In 1858 he w 7 as ordered to China, and commanded a battalion of 

 seamen at the capture of Canton. On the signing of the Treaty of 

 Peace at Tientsin in June, 1858, Captain Key returned to England 

 and served as the naval member on the Royal Commission which was 

 appointed to consider the condition of our coast defences. 



In 1860 he was appointed to the command of the Steam Reserve at 

 Devonport, and after three years' service in that capacity he was 

 transferred to the command of the "Excellent." the gunnery ship at 

 Portsmouth, and was also Superintendent of the Royal Naval College 

 at that port, where he served until 1865. 



About this time, the great change in the size and pow r er of naval 

 guns, brought about by the introduction of armour-plated ships, 

 necessitated the creation of a new department at the Admiralty, and 

 Captain Key was appointed Director- General of this new Naval 

 Ordnance Department, which he held as Captain and Rear-Admiral 

 until 1869. having been promoted to flag rank in 1866. 



In the latter part of 1869 he was appointed Admiral Superintendent 



