A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Borthwick, Alexander
BORTHWICK. (Commander, 1818. f-p., 21; h-p., 31.)
Alexander Borthwick entered the Navy, 13 Feb. 1795, as Midshipman, on board La Seine frigate, Capt. Robt. M‘Douall, and, from April, 1796, to Nov. 1799, served with the same officer in the Ganges 74, in which ship he was present at the reduction of Ste. Lucie, in May, 1796. He next joined the Triton 32, Capts. John Gore and Robt. Lewis Fitzgerald, employed in the Channel and off the coast of Spain, and was made Lieutenant, 12 Feb. 1802, into the Cambridge 80, bearing the flag of Sir Thos. Pasley at Plymouth. He left that ship in May following; and was subsequently appointed, 24 Aug. 1803, to the Zealand, bearing the flag, at the Nore, of Rear-Admiral Bartholomew Sam. Rowley – 3 July, 1805, to the Zealous 74, Capts. John Okes Hardy, John Giffard, Wm. Pierrepont, and Thos. Boys, to which ship he continued attached, in the Baltic and Mediterranean, off the coasts of France, Portugal, and Spain, and at the defence of Cadiz, until he invalided in Aug. 1814 – and, 20 Nov. 1815, as First-Lieutenant, to the Ramillies 74, flag-ship, on the Leith station, of Sir Wm. Johnstone Hope. He was paid off in Sept. 1818, and advanced to his present rank 7 Dec. following. Since that period he has been unemployed.