A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Garrett, Edward William
GARRETT. (Commander, 1809. f-p., 17; h-p., 36.)
Edward William Garrett was born in 1781.
This officer entered the Navy, 25 Nov. 1794 as Ordinary, on board the Ambuscade 32, Capt. Geo. Duff, and, until promoted, 19 Sept. 1801, further served with that officer, as Midshipman in the Glenmore 36, and Vengeance 74, on the North Sea, Irish, Baltic, and Channel stations. He pears to have been then appointed to the Amethyst 36 Capts. Henry Rich. Glynn and Alex. Campbell, and afterwards, in 1803-4-8, to the Windsor Castle 74, Capts. John Wells and Davidge Gould, Mars 74, Capts. Geo. Duff, Robt. Dudley Oliver, and Wm. Lukin, and Onyx sloop, Capt. Chas. Gill. While in the Mars he was wounded at the battle of Trafalgar, 21 Oct. 1805[1] – assisted, in 1806, at the capture of Le Rhin of 44 guns, and also of La Gloire 46, and L’lnfatigable 44, two out of four French frigates that had been pursued and brought to action by a squadron under Sir Sam. Hood – and during the expedition of 1807 against Copenhagen was employed in landing troops, and in fitting out the Danish ships preparatory to their being sent to England. On 1 Jan. 1809, being at the time First of the Onyx, of 10 guns and 75 men, Mr. Garrett aided, and was strongly recommended for his valuable conduct, at the capture, after a severe action, in which the enemy lost 5 men killed and 6 wounded, and the British only 3 wounded, of the Dutch brig Manly, of 16 guns and 94 men.[2] He subsequently, with the assistance of only a boat’s crew, succeeded in conducting the prize with all the prisoners into port; and, being rewarded for his gallantry by commission dated 16 of the same month, was next appointed, 22 Oct. 1810, to the Hope 10, on the Channel station, where he captured, 23 June, 1813, an American lugger privateer, armed with swivels and small arms, and manned with 31 men. He was placed on half-pay 14 July following; and, on 6 Feb. 1844, was admitted into Greenwich Hospital.
Commander Garrett obtained a grant from the Patriotic Society in consideration of the wound he received at Trafalgar. He married, in 1815, the only daughter of the late John Burrell, Esq., Hon.E.I.C.’s service, and sister of Wm. Burrell, who was lost when Midshipman of H.M.S. Saldanha 36, Capt. Hon. Wm. Pakenham, 4 Dec. 1811.