A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Decoeurdoux, George Lacey
DECOEURDOUX. (Retired Commander, 1844. f-p. 27; h-p., 31.)
George Lacey Decoeurdoux entered the Navy, 4 Nov. 1789, as Lieutenant’s Servant, on board the Childers 10, Capt. Hon. Robt. Stopford; and after an additional servitude, latterly as Midshipman, in the Saturn 74, Capt. Robt. Linzee, Royal Sovereign 100, flag-ship of Sir Thos. Graves, and L’Espion 38, Capt. Manley Dixon, accompanied the last-mentioned officer, in July, 1797, into the Lion 64. On 15 July, 1798, being off Carthagena, he took part in a brilliant action between the Lion and four Spanish frigates of 42 guns each, which terminated in the surrender of one of the latter, the Santa Dorothea subsequently to which, when in company with the Penelope and Foudroyant, at the blockade of Malta, he further assisted, as Acting-Lieutenant, at the capture, 31 March, 1800, of the French 80-gun ship Guillaume Tell, after a tremendous conflict, in which the Lion sustained a loss of 8 men killed and 38 wounded. Mr. Decoeurdoux, who next served for upwards of 12 months as a Supernumerary of the Ville de Paris 110, flag-ship in the Channel of the Hon. Wm. Cornwallis, was confirmed to a Lieutenancy in the San Fiorenzo frigate, 16 April, 1802. He was afterwards appointed – 23 March, 1803, to the Mars 74, Capts. Robt. Dudley Oliver, Geo. Duff, and Wm. Lukin – 11 Dec. 1806, to the Weymouth store-ship, Capt. Martin White – 18 Jan. 1808, to La Flêche 18, Capts. Thos. White and Wm. Buchanan – and, 12 June, 1809, to the command of the Pegase prison-ship at Portsmouth, which he retained for upwards of three years. During his attachment to the Mars, Lieut. Decoeurdoux, besides sharing in the battle of Trafalgar, was present at the capture, 28 July, 1806, of Le Rhin, of 44 guns and 318 men; and, on 25 Sept. following, he was with Sir Sam. Hood’s squadron at the taking, off Rochefort, of four heavy French frigates, two of which, La Gloire 46, and L’Infatigable 44, struck to the Mars. From Jan. 1813, to July, 1817, he was next very actively employed, as a Transport Agent, on various stations, and was particularly active at the embarkation of the allied troops at Calais, in July, 1814, and Dec. 1815. His last appointment was to the Ordinary at Portsmouth, where he served from 26 May, 1831, until 30 April, 18-34. The rank he now holds was conferred on him 15 June, 1844.
Commander Decoeurdoux was admitted to the out-pension of Greenwich Hospital 12 July, 1839. He married, 21 Oct. 1809, Miss Jane Arnold, of Forton; and is father-in-law of Capt. John Reynolds, R.N.