GEORGE BURDETT, Esq
[Post-Captain of 1802.]
This officer was first Lieutenant of the Egmont 74, commanded by the present Admiral Sir John Sutton, in the action off Cape St. Vincent, Feb. 14, 1797; and commanded la Sophie sloop of war, on the Newfoundland station, during the last three years of the French revolutionary war. He was nominated to a command in the Irish Sea Fencibles about Dec. 1803; and appointed to the Maidstone frigate towards the latter end of 1811. From that period he was principally employed on the Halifax station, till the close of the contest between Great Britain and the United States.
On the 1st of Aug. 1812, the boats of the Maidstone and Spartan destroyed two American privateers in the bay of Fundy; and two days afterwards attacked and brought out a revenue cutter of 6 guns, pierced for 10, and three schooners mounting 2 guns each. On the 17th Oct. following, the same ships captured the Rapid, a fine privateer brig, of 14 guns and 84 men.
In Feb. 1813, we find Captain Burdett employed in the Chesapeake, with a squadron of frigates under his orders, the activity of which, in annoying the enemy, may be inferred from the following copy of a general memorandum issued by Rear-Admiral Cockburn:
“H.M.S. Marlborough, Lyn-haven Bay, Chesapeake, Mar. 4, 1813.