1730189A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Grieve, AdamWilliam Richard O'Byrne

GRIEVE. (Retired Commander, 1843.)

Adam Grieve was born 25 April, 1770, at Leith, and died about Sept. 1845, at Weymouth.

This officer entered the Navy, 1 Feb. 1797, as Master’s Mate, on board the Kite 18, Capt. Wm. Brown, and, after an intermediate employment in the North Sea, assumed charge, 3 May, 1798, of the Olive Branch fire-ship, lying at Woolwich. Returning to the Kite in the following Sept., he continued to serve in that vessel, under the command of Capt. Chas. Lydiard, on the same station as before, until Jan. 1801, at which period he became attached to the Leda 38, Capt. Geo. Hope. We subsequently find him, in 1802, 3, and 4, joining the Pique 36, Capt. Wm. Cumberland, Utrecht 64, and Prince of Orange 74, both commanded by Capt. Thos. Rogers, and Dart 28, Capt. Wm. Brownrigg, all on the Home station; and, on being next removed to the Defence 74, Capt. Geo. Hope, particularly distinguishing himself by his exertions at the battle of Trafalgar, 21 Oct. 1805. When in the Leda Mr. Grieve appears, in consequence of an accident, to have had several of his teeth knocked out, and to have lost some large pieces of his jaw; and, when in the Dart, to have officiated as Acting-Master in an operation against the enemy off Calais. On his eventual return from a voyage to the Cape, whither he had gone with Capt. Hope in the Theseus 74, he was promoted, 30 June, 1807, to a Lieutenancy in the Elizabeth 74, Capt. Hon. Henry Curzon. His subsequent appointments were – 17 Aug. 1808, to the Sparrow 16, Capt. Edw. Burt, in the West Indies – 18 Sept. 1810, to the Abercromby 74, Capt. Wm. Chas. Fahie, off Lisbon – and, 17 April, 1812, to the command of a Signal station on the island of Alderney. He went on half-pay 4 June, 1814, and, unable from the state of his health to seek further employment, accepted the rank of Retired Commander 6 April, 1843.

Commander Grieve married, 22 July, 1811, Miss Elizabeth Terrell, and by that lady has left issue two sons and three daughters. His eldest son, Adam John Geo. Grieve, commands the Rob Roy Revenue-vessel.