A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Baird, Andrew
BAIRD. (Commander, 1826.)
Andrew Baird entered the Navy, 7 April, 1807 or 1808, as A.B., on board the Quebec 32, Capt. Hon. Geo. Poulett, under whose successor, Capt. Chas. Sibthorp John Hawbayne, he continued to serve until Jan. 1812, during which period he was present, as Midshipman, in the boats of the Quebec, with those of the Diana, Imperiéuse, and Jason, in an unsuccessful attack on the enemy’s flotilla in the river Scheldt in 1809, and witnessed the subsequent capture of a large number of privateers and other armed vessels. He was next employed for three years, latterly as Master’s Mate, in the Pique 36, Capt. Hon. Anthony Maitland, mostly on the West India station, where, for a short period, from Feb. to April, 1815, he served on board the Venerable 74, flag-ship of Rear-Admiral Sir Philip Durham. He obtained his first commission on 19 Sept. in the latter year, but did not succeed in procuring an appointment until 6 April, 1818, when he joined the Sappho 18, Capt. Jas. Hanway Plumridge, and proceeded to St. Helena, from which station he invalided in April, 1820. On 8 Dec. in the following year, he joined the Fly 18, Capts. Geo. Tyler, Edw. Curzon, and Wm. Fanshawe Martin; and, on his eventual return from a visit to South America, became attached, in Oct. 1824, to the Boadicea 46. In that frigate Mr. Baird immediately sailed for the East Indies with the broad pendant of Sir Jas. Brisbane, by whom, on 2 Dec. 1825, he was promoted to the command of the Arachne sloop, stationed at Rangoon during the latter part of the Burmese war – an appointment which the Admiralty confirmed by commission, dated 20 May, 1826. The subject of this memoir, who left the Arachne towards the close of the same year, was subsequently, from 4 Oct. 1837, until the close of 1342, employed as an Inspecting-Commander in the Coast Guard. He has since been on half-pay. Agents – Messrs. Stilwell.