A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Alexander, Nicholas
ALEXANDER. (Commander, 1815. f-p., 16; h-p., 32.)
Nicholas Alexander has lost three brothers high in the Naval and Military service of their country – one of whom, the late gallant Capt. Thos. Alexander, C.B., died Senior Officer in command of the Naval Squadron before Rangoon, in Nov. 1825.
This officer entered the Navy, early in 1799, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Haerlem 64, Capt. Geo. Burlton, and after an attachment to the Serpent, Capt. Thos. Roberts, joined the Désirée 36, Capt. Henry Inman, one of Lord Nelson’s frigates in the action off Copenhagen, 2 April, 1801. In the course of 1802 he successively removed, as Midshipman, to the Nereide 36, Capt. Robt. Mends, and Port Mahon 18, Capts. Walter Grossett and Martin Neville. After witnessing the reduction, in 1803, of Ste. Lucie and Tobago, Mr. Alexander further served for two years with Capt. Edw. Hawker in the Mignonne, and with Rear-Admiral Jas. Rich. Dacres in, successively, the Theseus 74, and, as Sub-Lieutenant and Lieutenant (commissions dated 26 Feb. and 16 May, 1806), in the Shark sloop, and Hercule 74. His subsequent appointments were, – in 1808-9, to the Trent, Venerable, and St. Domingo, flag-ships of Admirals Jas. Hawkins Whitshed, Sir Rich. John Strachan, and Sir John Borlase Warren – and, on 22 Dec. 1812, to the Dragon 74, Capts. Fras. Augustus Collier and Robt. Barrie. While in the St. Domingo, under Sir R. Strachan, with whom he served for three years, Mr. Alexander joined in the attack upon Flushing in Aug. 1809 – frequently took part in gun-boat engagements – and was twice wounded. In April and May, 1813, during the period of his attachment to the Dragon, he was the Senior Lieutenant employed in the operations against the American towns, flotillas, and military stations in the Chesapeake; and for his conduct on all occasions, but particularly in the attack upon French Town, was honoured with the public thanks of Rear-Admiral Cockburn.[1] In the summer of 1814 he commanded a division of boats under Capt. Barrie in the several attacks on Commodore Barney’s flotilla in the Patuxent – repelled, when on shore at Parker’s Point, with only 38 marines and a few seamen, an assault made by 120 of the United States regular cavalry, supported by 500 infantry with field-pieces – had charge of a division of boats at the capture of Forts St. Peter and St. Mary – and was eventually employed at Cumberland Island. Mr. Alexander, whose services during the whole of this period drew forth the warm approbation of Capt. Barrie, attained the rank of Commander 13 June, 1815. He was afterwards employed in raising men at Cork, from Sept. 1815 to Feb. 1816; but since the latter date has been on half-pay.
He married, in 1815, Susannah, daughter of Wm. Legrand, Esq., of Cork, and has two sons, Robert Barrie and William Thomas, both Assistant-Surgeons in the Navy. Agents – Coplands and Burnett.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1813, p. 1331.