SIR EDMUND NAGLE,
Admiral of the Blue; Knight Commander of the most honourable Military Order of the Bath; a Groom of the Bedchamber, and Naval Aide-de-camp to his Majesty.
This officer is a nephew of that celebrated orator and statesman the late Right Hon. Edmund Burke. During the American war he commanded the Polecat, of 14 guns, from which sloop he was removed into the Racoon, of the same force. In the latter vessel he had the misfortune to be captured by two French frigates, off the Delaware river; but was soon afterwards liberated by Captain Elphinstone, now Viscount Keith, who fell in with and took l’Aigle, the ship to which the Racoon’s crew had been conveyed[1].
Captain Nagle was afterwards appointed to the Due d’Estitac, of 14 guns, on the Jamaica station. He obtained post rank Jan. 27, 1783, but does not appear to have held any other command prior to the commencement of the war with France, in 1793, when we find him commanding the Active frigate, and subsequently in the Artois, of 44 guns and 281 men, cruising on the French coast, under the orders of Commodore Warren. In August, 1794, he assisted at the destruction of la Felicité French frigate, and two corvettes, near the Penmarks[2].
On the 21st Oct. in the same year, the Artois, being off Ushant, in company with a squadron under Sir Edward Pellew, joined in the chace of an enemy’s ship, and her superior sailing afforded Captain Nagle the happy opportunity of distinguishing himself by a well conducted action of 40 minutes; when upon the approach of the other British frigates the Frenchman struck his colours. The prize proved to be la Révolutionnaire, of 44 guns and 35 1 men, 8 of whom were killed and 5 wounded. The Artois had Lieutenant Craigy, of the marines, and 2 men slain, with 5 wounded. For his gallant conduct on this occasion, Captain Nagle received the honour of knighthood.
