A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Barclay, Andrew
BARCLAY. (Lieut., 1823. f-p., 33; h-p., 6.)
Andrew Barclay, born 28 Jan. 1793, is second son of Jas. Barclay, Esq., and belongs to an ancient and respectable family, settled at Huntley, co. Aberdeen.
This officer (in the early part of his career a protégé of the late Duchess of Gordon and of Admiral Sir Geo. Hope, entered the Navy in April, 1808, on board the Namur 74, and first went to sea, in April, 1809, as Midshipman of the Victory 100, Capt. Geo. Hope, bearing the flag in the Baltic of Sir Jas. Saumarez. He continued to serve on that station for 20 months in the Stately 64, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Thos, Bertie, and Africa 64, Capt. Geo. Fred. Ryves, for the protection of the trade passing through the Great Belt and Sound, and while so engaged was perpetually in collision with the enemy’s gun-boats and batteries. On one occasion, while returning home as prize-master of a vessel captured by the Africa, he was taken by a Danish gun-boat, between the islands of Langeland and Laland, but on the same night was fortunately rescued by the boats of the St. George 98. In Dec. 1810, he rejoined the Stately, then commanded by Capt. Edw. Stirling Dickson, and, during the next year and a half, shared, part of the time in charge of a flat-bottomed boat, in all the arduous operations at the defence of Cadiz, Tarifa, and Malaga – assisted in escorting the troops under Sir Thos. Graham from Cadiz to Algesiras, and in conveying away the wounded, amongst whom was the French General Kufin, after the battle of Barossa – was also repeatedly opposed to the heavy fire of the numerous French batteries along the coast, a shot from one of which, on 22 March, 1811, struck the boat he was in and ultimately caused it to sink – and, under the immediate orders of Capt. Geo. Cockburn, thrice commanded the Stately’s yawl in action with the enemy’s privateers. On 18 Aug. 1812, Mr. Barclay became Master’s Mate of the Superb 74, Capt. Hon. Chas. Paget, stationed in the Channel, whence, after contributing to the capture of several American vessels of great value, one of which, the Star of New York, he brought into port, he visited the coast of Africa, the West Indies, and South America. While afterwards on the shores of North America, he was in active employment against New York, New London, and New Bedford; and waa also present at the attack upon Wareham, on which occasion he commanded the rocket-boat, set fire to a large cotton-factory, and aided in destroying between 30 and 40 sail of shipping. On her return home, in March, 1815, the Superb received the flag of Rear-Admiral Hon. Sir Henry Hotham, and during the “hundred days” was engaged in affording assistance to the Royalists in La Vendée. Mr. Barclay, soon after the surrender of Napoleon Buonaparte, had the honour of assisting the unfortunate Emperor up the side of the ship when proceeding to breakfast with the Commander-in-Chief. On 27 Aug. 1816, being still in the Superb, he took part, under Capt. Chas. Ekins, in the battle of Algiers. On that memorable day he had charge of the seven foremost guns on the lower deck – twice commanded the launch, once for the purpose of throwing rockets to destroy the enemy’s fleet, and, again, to assist in extricating the Queen Charlotte from the course of a blazing frigate, then drifting out of the harbour – was the bearer, with the jolly-boat under his orders, of a communication from the Commander-in-Chief to Rear-Admiral Milne – and proved of further utility by his great exertions in removing the Superb out of reach of gun-shot to a place of safety. For his zeal, energy, and exemplary conduct throughout the whole of the proceedings he received the high and deserved encomiums of his Captain, and of Lieut. Joseph Soady, who had succeeded to the command on the latter and the First Lieutenant being placed hors de combat; yet, although he had passed his examination 16 months previously, he was unable, until after a lapse of nearly seven years, to procure his commission. On quitting the Superb, Mr. Barclay, in Sept. 1818, joined the Vengeur 74, Capt. Fred. Lewis Maitland, in which ship we find him accompanying Viscount Beresford from South America to Lisbon, and the King of the Two Sicilies from Naples to Leghorn. In April, 1820, he became Admiralty Midshipman of the Rochfort 80, flagship of Sir Graham Moore, in the Mediterranean; and, on his return home in the spring of 1821, at the instance of his friend the Hon. Capt. Paget, joined that officer in the Apollo yacht, and, on subsequently following him into the Royal George yacht, attended George IV. to Scotland in the summer of 1822. He was at length advanced to his present rank, 6 Sept. 1823; and since 5 April, 1829, has been in the Coast Guard.
He married, 26 March, 1826, Miss Anne Dance, and has issue two sons and six daughters.