A Naval Biographical Dictionary/McKirdy, Robert
M‘KIRDY. (Lieutenant, 1814.)
Robert M‘Kirdy died about the commencement of 1847.
This officer entered the Navy (into which he was impressed), 16 April, 1806, on board the Enterprize receiving-ship at the Tower. In the following June, after he had for a short time been attached to the Zealand, commanded at the Nore by Capt. Henry Lidgbird Ball, he became Midshipman of the Theseus 74, Capts. Geo. Hope and John Poo Beresford, in which ship and the Poictiers 74, also under the orders of Capt. Beresford, we find him serving on the Home station, in the capacities of Masters Mate and Second-Master, until July, 1812. He was in consequence present, in the Theseus, at the destruction of the enemy’s shipping in Basque Roads in April, 1809. On leaving the Poictiers he sailed for the East Indies in the Minden 74, flagship of Sir Sam. Hood, who nominated him, 2 May, 1813, Acting-Lieutenant of the Cornwallis 74, Capt. Stephen Thos. Digby. He went on half-pay in Aug. 1314, having been officially promoted on 4 of the preceding Feb.; and he was afterwards employed, for a long time, in command of the Tickler cutter and Martial gun-brig. In the former vessel he was engaged in superintending the herring-fishery on the N.W. coast of Scotland.