A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Borgoyne, Frederick William
BORGOYNE. (Captain, 1815. f-p., 33; h-p., 24.)
Frederick William Borgoyne, born 28 May, 1778, is second son of the late Major-General Sir John Burgoyne, Bart., Colonel of the 19th Light Dragoons, by Charlotte, eldest daughter of General Johnstone, of Overston, co. Northampton (wife, afterwards, of Lieut.-General Eyre Power Trench, brother of the first Earl of Clancarty); and uncle of the present Sir John Montagu Burgoyne, Bart.
This officer entered the Royal Naval Academy in Sept. 1790, and embarked, in Dec. 1793, as Midshipman, on board the Hannibal 74, Capt. John Colpoys, stationed in the Channel. Joining next the Montagu 74, Capt. Jas. Montagu, he had an opportunity of being present in Lord Howe’s action of 1 June, 1794. After that event he joined La Nymphe 36, Capt. Geo. Murray, with whom he took part in Lord Bridport’s encounter with the French fleet off Ile de Groix 23 June, 1795. He subsequently became attached to the Irresistible 74, commanded by the same Captain, Barfleur 98, and Victory 100, flag-ships of Lord Radstock and Sir John Jervis, and Comet fireship, Capt. Edw. Hamilton, in which latter vessel he was for many months very actively engaged off the coasts of France and Italy, and was frequently in collision with the enemy both on shore and afloat. Immediately after his examination, which he passed before Lord Nelson in Dec. 1796, Mr. Burgoyne received an order to act as Lieutenant of the Blenheim 74, Capt. Thos. Lennox Frederick, and on his subsequent transference, in a like capacity, to the Britannia 100, bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Chas. Thompson, he shared in the battle off Cape St. Vincent, 14 Feb. 1797. Being officially promoted on 7 of the following March, he was subsequently appointed – 17 Nov. in the same year, to the Arethusa 38, Capt. Thos. Wolley, in the Channel – 29 April, 1799, to La Seine, Capt. David Milne, off the coast of Africa – 13 July, 1800, to the Queen 98, Capt. Man Dobson, in the West Indies – 15 Feb. 1801, to the Decade 38, Capt. Wm. Gordon Rutherford, under whom he was employed on numerous cutting-out expeditions on the north side of St. Domingo and coast of South America – 1 April, 1802, to the Rattler 16, Capt. Spread, for passage home – 16 March and 14 Nov. 1803, to the Ardent 64, and Ariadne 24, Capts. Robt. Winthrop and Elphinstone, on the Home station – 27 Sept. 1804, to the Hyaena 36, Capt. Wm. Chas. Fahie, in which ship he sailed for Barbadoes – between 23 Jan. 1805, and 7 Jan. 1806, to the Centaur 74, Commodore Sir Sam. Hood, and Alligator, Capt. Fras. Aug. Collier, and to the temporary command of the Express gun-brig, and Cyane 18, on the West India station – 24 Aug. 1807, to the Sea Fencibles at Dover – and, 19 Jan. and 3 July, 1809, to the successive command of the Defender and Transit gun-brigs, employed in the Channel. He obtained his second promotal commission 22 Oct. 1810; was afterwards appointed, 3 Aug. 1811, 7 Feb. 1812, and 1 Dec. 1814, to the Tyrian 10, and Port Mahon and Sparrowhawk, of 18 guns each, on the Home and Mediterranean stations; became a Post-Captain 20 Sept. 1815; and, having visited Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli, with Lord Exmouth, returned home in June, 1816, with the despatches announcing the liberation of all the Christian slaves there in bondage. From 1 Nov. 1824, until the spring of 1831, he next held a command in the Coast Guard at Kinsale and Wexford; and he lastly, from 6 Aug. 1841, until Sept. 1844, as Captain of the San Josep 110, flag-ship at Devonport of the Admiral Superintendent, Sir Sam. Pym, had charge of the Ordinary at that place. He accepted the retirement 1 Oct. 1846.
Capt. Burgoyne married Miss Wallis, and by that lady has an eldest daughter, Charlotte Frances, who married, 24 Feb. 1834, Capt. Michael Maxwell, then of the Royal Irish Fusileers, son of the late Lieut. Gen. Sir John Maxwell, Bart. Agents – Case and Loudonsack.