A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Bridges, George Francis
BRIDGES. (Commander, 1818. f-p., 14; h-p., 29.)
George Francis Bridges is nephew of the late Lieut.-General Bridges. This officer entered the Navy, 1 Aug. 1804, as Midshipman, on board the Tigre 74, Capt. Benj. Hallowell, under whom he continued to serve, in the same ship, until the attainment of his first commission 1 Aug. 1811. During that period he accompanied Lord Nelson to the West Indies in pursuit of the combined fleets of France and Spain in 1805; attended the expedition to Egypt in 1807; witnessed the self-destruction of the French line-of-battle ships Robuste and Lion near the mouth of the Rhone, 26 Oct. 1809; and, on 31 of the same month, served in the boats at the capture and destruction, in the Bay of Rosas, of the French storeship Lamproie, of 16 guns and 116 men, with three other armed and seven merchant vessels, defended in a very spirited manner by their respective crews as well as by several powerful batteries, whose joint opposition occasioned the British a loss of 15 men killed and 55 wounded.[1] On Capt. Hallowell hoisting his flag, as Rear-Admiral, in the Malta 80, Lieut. Bridges joined him on 28 Oct. 1811, and remained under his command in that ship and in the Royal Sovereign 100, and Tonnant 80, on the Mediterranean, Plymouth, and Irish stations, until advanced to the rank of Commander, 9 Sept. 1818. While in the Tonnant he jumped overboard and saved the life of a man who in a state of intoxication had thrown himself into the sea. He has not since been employed.
Commander Bridges married, 19 May, 1825, Harriet, only surviving daughter of the Rev. D. D. Bergeur, Rector of Everley, co. Wilts, and Chaplain to Aubrey, seventh Duke of St. Albans. Agents – Messrs. Chard.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1809, p. 1907.