A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Bruce, Charles
BRUCE. (Lieut., 1815. f-p., 11; h-p., 28.)
Charles Bruce died 23 Aug. 1843.
This officer entered the Navy, in May, 1805, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Agincourt 64, Capt. Thos. Briggs; and, on ultimately accompanying the same Captain to the West Indies in the Orpheus 32, was wrecked, as Midshipman, 22 Jan. 1807. He then joined the Cuba, Capt. John Parish, but removed in the following Sept. to the Amphion 32, Capt. Sir Wm. Hoste. While in the latter frigate, Mr. Bruce, on 12 May, 1808, shared in a very spirited engagement of many hours with several batteries in the Bay of Bosas, in an attempt to cut out the French frigate-built 800-ton store-ship Balleine, mounting from 26 to 30 guns, with a crew of 150 men. He also, on 27 Aug. 1809, served with a detachment, under Lieut. C. G. K. Phillott, at the storming of the strong fort of Cortellazzo, near Trieste; the capture of which occasioned the simultaneous surrender, within sight of the Italian squadron off Venice, of 6 of the enemy’s gun-boats, and a large convoy of merchant-trabacolos anchored for protection under its walls.[1] On 29 June, 1810, Mr. Bruce further landed near the town of Groa, and, after defeating a large body of French troops, assisted at the capture and destruction of a convoy of 25 vessels.[2] He was eventually captured by the enemy in Nov. 1810, and taken to Italy, where he was detained a prisoner until Jan. 1812. Being then released, he successively joined, in the course of the same year, the Unité 36, Capt. Edwin Henry Chamberlayne, Eagle 74, Capt. Chas. Rowley, and Bacchante 38, Capts. Sir Wm. Hoste and Fras. Stanfell. On 14 Feb. 1813, we find him serving in the Bacchante’s barge, armed with a 12-pounder carronade, and manned with 23 officers and men, under Lieut. Silas Thomson Hood, at the boarding and capture, near Otranto, of the French gun-vessel Alcinous, of 2 long 24-pounders and 45 men; and, on 5 Jan. 1814, his emulous conduct appears to have been spoken of in high terms by Sir Wm. Hoste, in his despatch announcing the surrender, after a ten days’ cannonade, of the fortress of Cattaro, in the Adriatic.[3] Mr. Bruce – who we believe witnessed the ensuing reduction of Ragusa, and, by his unwearied exertions, as Master’s Mate, in command of a party of 30 seamen, attached to the army at the capture of Machias, in Sept. 1814, obtained the official notice of Lieut.-Colonel Pilkington[4] – was confirmed to a Lieutenancy, 15 Feb. 1815, in the Adder sloop, Capts. Jos. Pearce and Sam. Malbon. He left that vessel, of which he acted for two months as Commander, 6 Sept. 1815; and was not afterwards employed.