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A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Barwell, Nathaniel

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1632461A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Barwell, NathanielWilliam Richard O'Byrne

BARWELL. (Lieut., 1814. f-p., 10; h-p., 32.)

Nathaniel Barwell, born 31 Dec. 1793, is son of Osborn Barwell, Esq.

This officer entered the Navy, 6 Nov. 1805, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Saracen 18, Capt. Jas. Prevost, in which ship, after landing Lieut.-Gen. Whitelocke at Buenos Ayres in July, 1807, he returned home with the despatches announcing the disastrous result of the attack on that place. During a subsequent attachment of three years, as Midshipman, to the Success 32, Capt. John Ayscough, we find Mr. Barwell escorting the present Earl of Roden and a convoy to the Mediterranean, contributing to the reduction of Ischia and Procida, and participating in the capture and destruction of a large number of the enemy’s armed and other vessels. On next joining the Active 46, Capt. Jas. Alex. Gordon, he served with credit in the boats of that frigate at the taking of a convoy of 28 merchantmen, defended by three gun-vessels and a body of 300 troops, in a creek in the island of Ragosniza, in the Adriatic, 27 July, 1811;[1] and on 29 Nov. following bore a part in a hard-fought action of an hour and 40 minutes, which, in rendering the Active captor of La Pomone of 44 guns and 332 men, 50 of whom were killed and wounded, cost her a loss of 8 men killed and 27 wounded, including Capt. Gordon, who lost a leg. He was subsequently employed for two years in the Unite 36, Capt. Henry Edwin Chamberlayne, and Minorca 18, Capt. Ralph Randolph Wormeley, both in the Mediterranean; was confirmed to a Lieutenancy, 7 Jan. 1814, in the Wizard 18, Capt. Fairfax Moresby, on the same station; and from May to Sept. 1815, officiated as First of the Erebus 18, Capts. David Ewen Bartholomew and Fras. Le Hunte, off Flushing. He has not since been afloat.

Lieut. Barwell married Susan Anne, daughter of J. C. Middleton, Esq.


  1. Vide Gaz. 1811, p. 2193.