A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Bourchier, Henry
BOURCHIER. (Rear-Admiral, 1846.)
Henry Bourchier is eldest son of Capt. John Bourchier, R.N., who died Lieut.-Governor of Greenwich Hospital, 30 Dec. 1809; and brother of Commander Wm. Bourchier, R.N. (1815), who died 22 Jan. 1844.
This officer entered the Navy, 28 Aug. 1797, as a Boy, on board the Ariadne 20, Capt. Jas. Bradley, stationed in the Downs. He was next employed on the Home and Newfoundland stations in the Royal William, Capt. Fras. Pickmore, Anson 44, Capt. Philip Chas. Durham, Veteran 64, Capt. Archibald Collingwood Dickson (part of Sir Hyde Parker’s fleet during the action off Copenhagen, 2 April, 1801), Endymion 40, Capts. Henry Garrett and Joseph Larcom, and Iris 32, Capts. Edw. Brace and Wm. Grenville Lobb. Shortly after the receipt of his first commission, which bears date 1 May, 1804, Mr. Bourchier joined the Elephant 74, Capt. Geo. Dundas; on removing from which ship to the Unicorn 32, Capt. Lucius Ferdinand Hardyman, we find him, on 6 May, 1805, commanding one of four boats at the capture, off St. Domingo, in face of a heavy fire of great guns and musketry, of the French privateer Tape-à-bord of 4 long sixpounders and 46 men.[1] He subsequently served for two years with Sir Alex. Cochrane in the Northumberland and Belleisle 74’s; and, attaining the rank of Commander 20 April, 1808, was next appointed, on 9 Nov. in that year, to the Hawke 16. In that vessel, after taking, 7 Feb. 1811, Le Furet privateer, of 14 guns and 86 men,[2] and witnessing the destruction, 25 March ensuing, of the French 40-gun frigate Amazone, Capt. Bourchier, on 19 Aug., rendered himself conspicuous by his gallantry in attacking a convoy steering for Barfleur, under the protection of three gun-brigs carrying each from 10 to 16 guns, and of two large luggers of from 8 to 10 guns. With these an action of great spirit on both sides took place, and was maintained until two of the brigs and the luggers, together with 15 of the merchantmen, were driven on shore. The rest escaped in consequence of the Hawke unfortunately taking the ground, in which state she lay exposed for an hour and a half to an incessant discharge of artillery and musketry from the beach. Of the stranded vessels, the only remaining gun-brig, the Héron of 10 guns, and three large transports, were afterwards brought out by Lieut, (now Capt.) David Price.[3] The loss of the British in this highly creditable affair did not exceed 1 man killed and 4 wounded. Capt. Bourchier – whose conduct deservedly procured him a Post-commission on the very day the intelligence of this exploit reached the Admiralty, Aug. 22 – was subsequently appointed – 5 Jan. 1813, to the San Josef 110, fitting at Plymouth for the flag of Rear-Admiral Edw. Jas. Foote – 12 May following to the Myrtle 20 in which vessel he served for some time on the Lisbon station – 18 Nov. in the same year, to the Medina 20, employed, until Jan. 1816, off Newfoundland – and, 28 Nov. 1820, to the Atholl 28. He was nominated Superintendent, in Jan. 1827, of the Quarantine Establishment at Milford; and accepted his present rank 1 Oct. 1846.
Capt. Bourchier is married, and has, with other issue, a son, the present Lieut. Macdonald Bourchier, R.N. Agents – Messrs. Stilwell.