A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Burton, George Guy
BURTON. (Captain, 1846. f-p., 20; h-p., 30.)
George Guy Burton is third and eldest surviving son of the late John Burton, Esq., who for many years held responsible appointments in the Government departments of the Navy; younger brother of Lieut. John Burton, R.M., who was drowned at the Nore, while belonging to the Garland frigate, about 1795, and of the late Capt. Thos. Burton, R.N.; elder brother of Lieut.-Colonel Wm. Moulden Burton, at present commanding a battalion of Royal Marines in Ireland; uncle of Lieut. A. J. Burton, R.N.; and brother-in-law both of the late Lieut.-Colonel Long, R.M., and of Rear-Admiral Sir Sam. Warren, K.C.B., K.C.H., who died 15 Oct. 1839.
This officer entered the Navy, 10 Feb. 1797, as a Boy, on board the Eagle 74, Lieut.-Commander James, lying at Chatham, and, on removing to the Venerable 74, Capts. Sir Wm. Geo. Fairfax and Sam. Hood, was present in an action between the British and Spanish squadrons in Aix Roads, 2 July, 1799, and, as Midshipman, in Sir Jas. Saumarez’ battles of 6 and 12 July, 1801. He afterwards became attached to the Hazard 18, Capt. R. J. Neve, Apollo 36, Capt. John Wm. Taylor Dixon, and Defence 74, Capt. Geo. Hope, on the Home station; and on 20 Feb. 1805, was promoted into the Centaur 74, bearing the broad pendant in the Leeward Islands of Commodore Sir Sam. Hood. Joining next, 20 March, 1805, the Nimrod 18, Capts. Thos. Orde, Jas. Ayscough, Thos. John Cochrane, Fras. Aug. Collier, Hugh Cameron, and Wm. Baterson, we find him, as Senior-Lieutenant of that sloop, commanding her boats at the cutting out several vessels from under the batteries at Guadeloupe. On 18 April, 1808, Mr. Burton was removed to the temporary command of the Grenada 14, in which he captured two French privateers. From Dec. following until March, 1810, he next served under Sir Alex. Cochrane in the Neptune 98, and Pompée 74, and during that period he assisted on shore at the reduction ot Martinique and Guadeloupe, was also present at the surrender of the Saintes, witnessed the capture ol the French 74-gun ship D’Haupoult, and was at the destruction of the two 44-gun frigates Loire and Seine, in L’Ance la Barque. His subsequent appointments, as Lieutenant, were – 18 March, 1810, to the acting-command of the Wanderer, of 18 guns 11 May and 20 July following, to the Neptune and Statira 38, both flag-ships of Sir A. Cochrane – 21 Oct. in the same year, to the command, pro tem., of the Port d’Espagne 18, all likewise in the West Indies – 21 April, 1812, to the Christian VII. 80, Capt. Hen. Lidgbird Ball, in the North Sea – 7 and 28 June, 1813, to the Sceptre and Marlborough 74’s, Capt. Robt. Honyman, on the North American station – and, 14 Jan. 1814, to the Tonnant 80, Vice-Admiral Hon. Sir A. Cochrane, for his services as First-Lieutenant of which ship at the taking of Washington he was promoted, 5 Oct. ensuing, to the command of the Wolverene 16, which he brought home and paid off 27 Aug. 1815. His next appointment was, on 2 Oct. 1843, to the Poictiers 72, guard-ship at Chatham, where he served until advanced to his present rank, 9 Nov. 1846.
Capt. Burton received the approval of the Admiralty, and was presented, in the session of 1823-4, with the large silver medal of the “Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce,” for his improved method of fitting anchor-stoppers. He is married, and has issue.