A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Bourne, Henry

1639530A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Bourne, HenryWilliam Richard O'Byrne

BOURNE. (Commander, 1813. f-p., 13; h-p.,33.)

Henry Bourne entered the Navy, 12 May, 1801, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Neptune 98, Capt. Edw. Brace, bearing the flag in the Channel of Vice- Admiral Gambler; served as Midshipman, for a few months in 1802, in the Camilla 20, commanded by the same officer and by Capt. Henry Hill; then rejoined Vide-Admiral Gambier in the Isis 50, at Newfoundland; became attached, in Jan. 1804, to the Melpomene 38, Capts. Robt. Dudley Oliver and Peter Parker employed in the Channel and Mediterranean; was made Lieutenant, 4 Jan. 1808, into the Fame 74, Capt. Rich. Henry Alex Bennett, off Cadiz; and on 11 June, 1809, removed to the Spartan frigate, Capt. Jahleel Brenton. In Oct. of the latter year he assisted at the reduction of Zante, Cephalonia, and Cerigo; and on 3 May, 1810, he signalized himself by his exemplary conduct and gallantry, as Junior Lieutenant of the Spartan, whose force amounted to 46 guns and 258 men, in a brilliant and single-handed victory gained by that ship, in the Bay of Naples (after a contest of more than two hours, in which the British sustained a loss of 10 men killed and 22 wounded), over a Franco-Neapolitan squadron, carrying altogether 95 guns and about 1400 men.[1] Mr. Bourne was subsequently employed with Capt. Edw. Pelham Brenton, who succeeded to the command of the Spartan, on the coast of North America, where he aided in the capture of numerous privateers and other vessels, until promoted to the command of the Rattler sloop, of 16 guns. He was superseded from that vessel 24 Jan. 1814, and, with the exception of a few months in 1829-30, when he served at Sheerness as Second-Captain of the Donegal 78, Capt. Sir Jahleel Brenton, has held no further appointment.


  1. Vide Gaz. 1810, p. 1134