Lord Townshend arranged a position for the young Manby in the stationers of the ordnance department .
Manby dreamt of a life at sea and at the age of 14 resigned his post and embarked as a midshipman on board the 24 - gun Hyaena .
Lord Townshend arranged a position for the young Manby in the stationers of the ordnance department , but Manby dreamt of a life at sea and at the age of 14 resigned his post and embarked as a midshipman on board the 24 - gun Hyaena .