A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Bird, Henry
BIRD. (Lieutenant, 1809. f-p., 11; h-p., 33.)
Henry Bird entered the Navy, in April, 1803, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board La Seine 38, Capt. David Milne, and in July [errata 1] following was wrecked on a sandbank near the Texel. He shortly afterwards joined the Unicorn 32, Capt. Lucius Hardyman, in which frigate he attained the rating of Midshipman in July, 1805, and, in Feb. 1807, witnessed the reduction of Monte Video. Being promoted (after further serving for 15 months in the North Sea on board the Warspite 74, Capt. Hon. Henry Blackwood) to the rank of Lieutenant, by commission dated 4 Aug. 1809, he subsequently joined in that capacity – on 21 of the same month. La Désirée frigate, Capt. Arthur Farquhar, lying at Portsmouth – 24 Oct. following, the Horatio 38, Capt. Geo. Scott, under whom, on 21 Feb. 1810, he assisted at the capture, after a long chase, and a running fight of an hour, of La Nécessité mounting 26 guns, with a complement of 186 men, and laden with naval stores and provisions – 3 Nov. 1810, the Roebuck 44, bearing the flag of Lord Gardner at North Yarmouth – 21 June, 1811, the Musquito, Capt. Wm. Bell, employed in the North Sea – 6 March, 1812, the Rover 18, Capt. Justice Finley, from which vessel, after intermediately cruizing in the Channel and Bay of Biscay; he invalided, in April, 1813 – and, on 24 Dec. in the latter year, the Elephant 74, Capt. Fras. Wm. Austen, lying at Portsmouth. He was paid off 10 May, 1814, and since 29 Sept. 1846, has been employed in the Coast Guard. Agents – Coplands and Burnett.