A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Bouverie, Duncombe Pleydell
BOUVERIE. (Vice-Admiral of the Blue, 1846. f-p., 28; h-p., 26.)
The Honourable Duncombe Pleydell Bouverie, born 28 June, 1780, is second son of the late Earl of Radnor, by Hon. Anne Duncombe, daughter and co-heir of Anthony Lord Feversham; brother of the present Earl of Radnor; brother-in-law of the Hon. Mrs. P. P. Bouverie, sister of Capt. Edw. Henry A’Court, R.N., M.P.; and uncle of Commander Fred. Wm. P. Bouverie, R.N.
This officer entered the Royal Naval Academy at Portsmouth 9 Jan. 1793; embarked, 24 April, 1795, as a Volunteer, on board the Nassau 64, Capt. Herbert Sawyer; and served, as Midshipman, from 18 of the following month until within a few days of the receipt of his first commission, 16 Feb. 1799, in the Latona and Cambrian frigates, both commanded by Capt. Hon. Arthur Kaye Legge, on the Home station. He then joined Vice-Admiral Sir Roger Curtis in the Prince 98, and, accompanying him soon afterwards, in the Lancaster 64, to the Cape of Good Hope, continued there to serve, in the same ship and the Adamant 50, latterly as Flag-Lieutenant, until 26 Aug. 1801, when he assumed command of the Penguin sloop, by virtue of a commission dated back to 14 of the preceding Feb. On 2 April, 1802, Capt. Bouverie was made Post into the Braave, of 40 guns; but, leaving that ship in the ensuing Aug., he was subsequently appointed – 1 April, 1803, to the Mercury 28, employed, first, as a floating battery off Guernsey, next in convoying the outward-bound trade to the Mediterranean, and (after capturing, 4 Feb. 1805, a Spanish national vessel, El Fuerte de Gibraltar, of 4 guns and 59 men) in cruizing in the West Indies – 10 Aug. 1805, to L’Aimable 32, in which ship he was chased by a French squadron under M. Richery, when proceeding to join Lord Nelson’s fleet off Cadiz – and, 20 Feb. 1806, to the Medusa 32. During the more than seven years of his continuance in the latter frigate, Capt. Bouverie participated in all the operations in the Rio de la Plata, from Oct. 1806, until his return to England with Lieut.-General Whitelocke, in Sept. 1807, including the capture of Maldonado and the island of Gorriti.[1] He also took, 4 April, 1808, L’Actif, French privateer, of 14 guns; united with Capt. Thos. Manby, of the Thalia 36, in a supposed pursuit of two French frigates to the coast of Labrador, whence he returned after experiencing for three months the greatest privations; captured, 6 and 14 Jan. 1810, while cruizing in the British Channel and Bay of Biscay, the privateers L’Aventure, of 14 guns and 82 men, and L’Hirondelle, of 14 guns and 75 men; and, in the summer of 1812, was repeatedly noticed in the despatches of Sir Geo. Ralph Collier for his efficacious support of the patriot cause on the north coast of Spain, where he particularly contributed to the reduction of Lequeytio and Guetaria.[2] He afterwards commanded, from 15 May, 1828, until 1831, the Windsor Castle 76, on the Mediterranean station; was appointed Colonel of Marines 22 July, 1830; attained the rank of Rear-Admiral 10 Jan. 1837; was lastly employed, from 26 July, 1837, until the same month in 1842, as Admiral-Superintendent at Portsmouth, with his flag on borad the Victory 104; and became a Vice-Admiral 9 Nov. 1846.
Vice-Admiral Bouverie, who is a Deputy-Lieutenant for Wiltshire, and has been several times returned to Parliament as the representative of different places in that co., married, 27 Dec. 1809, Louisa, second daughter of the late Joseph Hay, Esq.; and has an only daughter, Louisa, married, 2 April, 1832, to Capt. Hon. Sam. Hay, 7th Foot, brother of the Earl of Erroll.