A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Deuchar, Patrick
DEUCHAR. (Lieut., 1813. f-p., 11; h-p., 32.)
Patrick Deuchar, born 24 May, 1785, is brother of Morgan David Deuchar, Esq., late 1st Foot; and uncle of Lieut. D. Green, of the same regiment. Several others of his relatives are also in the army.
This officer (who had previously served an apprenticeship of four years in a merchant-ship) entered the Navy, 10 Jan. 1804, as Ordinary, on board the Helder 36, Capt. Rich. Hawkins; and, on becoming Midshipman of the Swiftsure 74, Capts. Mark Robinson and Wm. Geo. Rutherford, accompanied Lord Nelson to the West Indies in pursuit of the combined fleets of France and Spain, and was afterwards present, independently of many boat affairs, in the battle of Trafalgar, 21 Oct. 1805. When next in the Seahorse 38, Capts. Robt. Corbett and John Stewart, we find him much employed in detached operations against the Spanish gun-boats and convoys off Cadiz; after which he served, in the Moselle 18, Capt. Alex. Gordon, at the attack on Rosetta in April, 1807; and, in the year following, was employed, as Master’s Mate of the Bustard 18, Capt. John Duff Markland, on the hazardous duty of landing papers on the coast ot France relative to the revolution in Spain. On accompanying Sir Rich. Strachan from the Venerable 74, in which ship he had had the misfortune to fracture his left leg, into the St. Domingo, Mr. Deuchar, in Aug. 1809, attended the expedition to the Walcheren; where he commanded a strong division of boats at the landing of the troops, and actively co-operated in the bombardment of Flushing. He subsequently served on the Baltic, Jamaica, and Lisbon stations, as a passed Midshipman of the Impétueux 74, Capts. John Lawford and David Milne, Thetis 38, Capt. Wm. Henry Byam, and Impétueux again, flag-ship of Vice-Admiral Geo. Martin. From 29 March, 1813, to 17 Nov. 1814, during which period (on 29 Nov. 1813) he obtained his commission, Mr. Deuchar commanded a portion of the Cadiz flotilla; and in the end was intrusted with the duty of laying up all the gunboats and returning their stores. He has not been able to procure employment since the peace.