Hearing, while at sick-quarters, that the Mediator was converted into a fire-ship, for the purpose of being employed against the French squadron in Aix roads, Captain Blarney hastened to rejoin her, but had the mortification not to reach the British fleet until the day after her destruction. This circumstance naturally gave him great distress, the officer acting during his absence having been thus afforded an opportunity of gaining great fame, immediate promotion, and extraordinary marks of distinction[1].
As some compensation for his disappointment, Captain Blamey was shortly afterwards appointed to the Harpy brig, then under repair at Portsmouth, and intended to form part of the expedition preparing against Antwerp. On the arrival of that formidable armament off Walcheren, Captain Blamey was selected by Sir Richard J. Strachan to land as second in command of the naval brigade under Captain Charles Richardson, to whose memoir (in Vol. II. Part II) we must refer our readers for an account of the services performed by the seamen on shore between July 30, and Aug. 15, 1809. It will be sufficient in this place to state that the “zeal and bravery” displayed by Captain Blamey were highly spoken of, both in the naval and military despatches announcing the surrender of Flushing.
After the evacuation of Walcheren, the Harpy was sent to Halifax, from whence she conveyed 150 troops to Lisbon. Captain Blamey’s post commission bears date Oct 21, 1810. He subsequently commanded the Loire frigate, for a short period, off the Black Rocks, and the Comet of 20 guns, on the Newfoundland and other stations: the latter ship was paid off in Dec. 1814.
This persevering, but by no means fortunate officer, married Eunice, eldest daughter of David Pearl, of Hampton, state of Connecticut, Esq., and a grand-daughter of Major
- ↑ Captain Wooldridge had the honor of breaking the enemy’s boom, and was presented with a gold chain and medal in addition to the other rewards to which his conspicuous bravery so justly entitled him – post rank, and continued employment. The Patriotic Society also voted him a sword value 100l. He died suddenly, in the prime of life, at Penzance, Aug.31, 1814.
