A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Hirtzel, George John
HIRTZEL. (Commander, 1842. f-p., 22; h-p., 13.)
George John Hirtzel, born at Exeter, is son of the late Geo. Hirtzel, Esq., of that place.
This officer entered the Navy, 8 Dec. 1812, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Andromeda 24, Capt. Rich. Arthur, with whom he served on the Lisbon and Mediterranean stations, for some time as Midshipman, until Dec. 1815. Until Jan. 1821 he was next employed in the Comus 22, Capt. Thos. Tudor Tucker, also in the Berwick 74 and Impregnable 104, both flag-ships at Plymouth, and in the Spartan 46, commanded on Particular Service by Capt. Wm. Furlong Wise. While under the latter officer he passed his examination, 4 June, 1819; and on leaviiig him he was for upwards of ten years continuously employed in North America and the West Indies on board the Niemen 28, Capt. Edw. Reynolds Sibly, Jupiter 50, Capts. David Dunn, Sir Wm. Saltonstall Wiseman, and Wm. Webb, Hussar 46, and Winchester 52, flag-ships of Sir Chas. Ogle and Sir Edw. Griffith Colpoys (under the latter of whom he officiated as Acting-Signal-Lieutenant from May to Oct. 1830), and Grasshopper 18, Capt. John Elphinstoue Erskine. After he had also acted for nine months as Lieutenant of the latter sloop, Mr. Hirtzel was at length officially promoted by commission dated 7 June, 1831. His subsequent appointments were – 8 July, 1836, to the Dublin 50, bearing the flag at the Brazils of Sir Graham Eden Hamond – 28 Dec. 1836, as Senior, to the Harrier 18, Capt. Wm. Henry Hallowell Carew, of which vessel, stationed until 1839 in the Pacific, he acted for some time as Commander – and, 1 Dec. 1841, as First, to the Alfred 50, fitting for the broad pendant of Commodore John Brett Purvis. He was promoted to his present rank in honour of Her Majesty’s visit to Portsmouth, 7 March, 1842 but has not been since afloat.
When a Mate in North America, Commander Hirtzel appears to have had frequent charge of small vessels. He is married and has issue.