Allen Francis Gardiner

Allen Francis Gardiner (1794–1851) was a British Royal Navy officer and missionary to Patagonia.

Gardiner was the fifth son of Samuel Gardiner of Coombe Lodge, Oxfordshire, by Mary, daughter of Charles Boddam of Capel House, Bull's Cross, Enfield, Middlesex. He was born on 28 January 1794 in the parsonage house at Basildon, Berkshire, where his parents were temporarily residing. He was religiously educated, and in May 1808 entered the Royal Naval College, Portsmouth.

On 20 June 1810 he went to sea as a volunteer on board HMS Fortunee. He next served on the HMS Phoebe as a midshipman during the War of 1812 until August 1814. He distinguished himself in the capture of the American frigate Essex, and was sent to England as acting lieutenant of that prize. Being confirmed as lieutenant on 13 December, he served in the frigate HMS Ganymede in the Mediterranean Fleet, then in the Leander, and the Dauntless in various parts of the world.

He returned invalided to Portsmouth on 31 October 1822.

As second lieutenant of the Jupiter, Gardiner he was at Newfoundland in 1824, and in 1825 returned to England in charge of the Clinker. He was promoted to commander on 13 September 1826. After that, although he often applied for positions in the Royal Navy, he never succeeded in obtaining another appointment.

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