A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Drury, Augustus Vere
DRURY. (Captain, 1814, f-p., 17; h-p., 35.)
Augustus Vere Drury died 9 Feb. 1845. He was second son of the late Capt. Rich. Vere Drury, of the Army, Ordnance Storekeeper at Tipnor, near Portsmouth, by Frances, only daughter of Sir Geo. Vandeput, Bart.; and nephew of the late Admiral Thos. Drury.
This officer entered the Navy, 14 Feb. 1793, as Midshipman, on board the Fox 32, commanded by his uncle, Capt. Thos. Drury; in which frigate, and in the Jupiter 50, Commodore John Willet Payne, and St. Albans and Resolution, flag-ships of Admiral Vandeput, he served his time, on the Newfoundland, Mediterranean, Home, and North American stations. Attaining the rank of Lieutenant 28 Sept. 1799, he was afterwards successively appointed, chiefly on the Home station, to the Asia 64, bearing the flag of Admiral Vandeput, Royal George 100, Capt. Wm. Domett, Polyphemus 64, Capt. John Lawford, Hecla bomb, Capt. John Sykes, and Moselle 18, Capt. John Snrman Garden. He served in the Polyphemus at the battle of Copenhagen, 2 April, 1801; and was First of the Hecla at the bombardment of Havre de Grace, in Aug. 1804. In March, 1807, Mr. Drury obtained command in North America of the Bream 4; and, on 3 July following, he was removed to that of the Sylvia cutter, of 10 18-pounder carronades and 50 men. After conveying the British Ambassador home from Copenhagen, he ultimately sailed for the East Indies; on his passage whither he recaptured the Seaflower brig of 14 guns, and took L’Hirondelle schooner of 6 guns, with despatches on board containing intelligence which eventually led to the reduction of the Isle of France. On 6, 7, and 11 April, 1810, we find Mr. Drury effecting the destruction, in the Straits of Sunda, of three armed vessels, carrying in the whole 6 guns and 132 men. He also took, after an action of two hours, a pirate of 10 guns .and 100 men; and on the 26th of the month last mentioned, with 12 of his men on the sick-list, compelled the Dutch national brig Echo, of 8 6-pounders and 46 men, to surrender, at the close of a sharp engagement of 20 minutes, in which the enemy lost 3 killed and 7 wounded, and the British 4 killed and 3 wounded. The Echo, at the time, was in company with two transports, both of which were likewise taken. For these services Capt. Drury was rewarded with a Commander’s commission, dated 2 May, 1810. He returned to England in Jan. 1811; and was next appointed, 17 June, 1812, to the Dover 18. After cruizing for two years on the Baltic, Mediterranean, and American stations, and obtaining the thanks of the Admiralty for his activity on a Particular Service, he was advanced to Post-rank 7 June, 1814; from which period he remained on half-pay until his death.
Capt. Drury married, first, in 1803, Maria, daughter of Capt. Chas. Smythe, and niece of Sir Wm. Smythe, Bart., of Hill Hall, co. Essex; and, secondly, in 1833, Jane, daughter of Sir Geo. Williams, Bart., by whom he has left issue two daughters. Agents – Messrs. Chard.