A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Burdwood, Thomas
BURDWOOD. (Retired Commander, 1844. f-p., 27; h-p., 24.)
Thomas Burdwood entered the Navy, 1 Oct. 1796, as A.B., on board the Raisonnable 64, Capts. Chas. Boyles and John Dilkes; attained the rating of Midshipman in Dec. following; and, after intermediately visiting the Cape of Good Hope, was present, 2 April, 1801, as Master’s Mate, in the battle off Copenhagen, on which occasion he was part of the time employed in an armed launch, and also on board the Elephant, Lord Nelson’s flagship. Between 30 April, 1802 (in Nov. of which year he passed his examination), and 8 Feb. 1805, Mr. Burdwood jouied in succession the Venture 8 Lieut.-Commander Robt. Jump, Galatea and Aigle frigates, both commanded by Capt. Geo. Wolfe, and Prince 98, Capt. Rich. Grindall, all on the Home station. He then became Sub-Lieutenant of the Milbrook schooner, Lieut.-Commanders John Cook Carpenter and Jas. Leach, employed off the coasts of Spain and Portugal; was promoted to a full Lieutenancy 29 Sept. 1807, in the Neptune 98, Capt. Sir Thos. Williams, in which ship he sailed for the West Indies; and, on 28 Nov. 1808, joined the Belleisle 74, Capts. Edw. Woolcombe, Wm. Chas. Fahie, and Geo. Cockburn. In the course of the following year he assisted at the capture of Martinique, and rendered valuable service, in command of a gun-boat, at the reduction of Flushing. His ensuing appointments were – 14 Sept. 1809, to the Achilles 74, Capt. Sir Rich. King, off Cherbourg – 11 Dec. in the same year, to the Recruit 18, Capts. Jas. Murray and Humphrey Fleming Senhouse, on the Newfoundland station – and, 20 Feb. 1811, and 6 Jan. 1812, to the command of the Princess Sophia-Frederica and Kron-Princessinn Maria prison-ships at Portsmouth. Lieut. Burdwood was next, on 7 Sept. 1814, nominated Agent for Transports Afloat, in which capacity he attended the expedition to New Orleans. He afterwards remained unemployed from 8 Nov. 1815, until 18 July, 1823, and then, rejoining the Transport service, continued in it (with one interval, from Dec. 1829, to May, 1831) until 19 July, 1832, when he again went on half-pay. He accepted his present rank 15 April, 1844.
Commander Burdwood is married, and has issue six children.