A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Macnamara, Burton
MACNAMARA, Kt. (Captain, 1833. f-p., 18; h-p., 21.)
Sir Burton Macnamara, born in 1794, is sixth son of the late Fras. Macnamara, Esq., of Doolen, co. Clare, by Jane, daughter of Geo. Stamer, Esq., of Camelly, in the same county; and brother of the present Wm. Nugent Macnamara, Esq., of Doolen, a Major of Militia, and M.P., since 1830, for co. Clare. He is a descendant of the ancient Admirals of Munster, whose office is said to have originated the name “Mac-na-mara,” or “Son of the Sea.”
This officer entered the Navy, 26 July, 1808, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Edgar 74, Capt. Jas. Macnamara; previously to accompanying whom, as Midshipman, in March, 1810, into the Berwick 74, he witnessed the embarkation from Nyeborg of the Marquis de la Romana and his patriot army, and the capture, which attended it, of the Danish vessels Fama of 18, and Salorman of 12 guns. After assisting, in the Berwick, in causing the self-destruction, near Barfleur, 25 March, 1811, of the French 40-gun frigate L’Amazone, Mr. Macnamara successively joined, in the course of that and the following year, the San Fiorenzo armée en flûte, Capt. Hon. Edm. Sexton Pery Knox, San Domingo 74, bearing the flag of Sir Rich. Strachan, and Statira 38, Capt. Hassard Stackpoole. While attached to the last-mentioned ship we find him frequently employed in her boats on the coast of North America, particularly on one occasion, 3 April, 1813, when he served with those of a squadron, containing 105 men, under the orders of Lieut. Jas. Polkinghorne, at the dashing capture, 15 miles up the Rappahannock river, of four schooners, carrying in the whole 31 guns and 219 men – an exploit whose achievement proved inflictive of a loss to the British of 2 killed and 11 wounded, and to the enemy of 6 killed and 10 wounded. In May, 1813, Mr. Macnamara commanded a boat, under Rear-Admiral Cockburn, in an attack upon the town of Havre-de-Grace, at the entrance of the Susquehanna river, and assisted in destroying a valuable cannon-foundry in its immediate vicinity. He was similarly employed in an expedition against Frenchtown. In Aug. 1814, having returned to England and passed his examination, he volunteered his services on the Canadian lakes. Proceeding thither accordingly, he continued on that station until Dec. 1815 – the last nine months as Acting-Lieutenant of the Prince Regent, Capt. Henry Thos. Davies, and Niagara, Capt. Edw. Collier. He then took up a commission bearing date 1 of the previous July; but he did not again go afloat until July, 1820, on 25 of which month he received an appointment to the Cambrian 48, Capt. Gawen Wm. Hamilton, fitting for the Mediterranean, where he was advanced, 19 July, 1822, to the command of the Chanticleer 10. During his continuance in that sloop, a period of two years, Capt. Macnamara was actively employed, owing to the revolution in Greece, in protecting the British and Ionian trade in the Archipelago against the violence of the contending parties. His exertions procured him the thanks of the Commander-in-Chief, Sir Graham Moore. His last appointment was, 1 June, 1825, to the Coast Guard, in which service he remained, stationed we believe in co. Clare, until the summer of 1832. In 1830, at a period of great disturbance, he appears to have been very active in the restoration of tranquillity. His Post-commission bears date 16 Nov. 1833.
Sir Burton Macnamara (who was knighted in 1839 by the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, the Marquess of Normanby) is a Magistrate for Clare, and in 1841 was a candidate for the representation of the borough of Ennis in Parliament. He married, 1 March, 1832, Jane, daughter of Daniel Gabbett, Esq., of Strand, Limerick. Agents – Messrs. Halford and Co.