A Naval Biographical Dictionary/O'Brien, Andrew
O’BRIEN. (Lieut., 1807. f-p., 17; h-p., 32.)
Andrew O’Brien entered the Navy, 10 March, 1798, as a Boy, on board the Romney 50, Capt. John Lawford; and in the summer of the same year waa present at the detention of a large convoy laden with naval and military stores for France, and under the protection of a Swedish frigate. After accompanying the expedition against the Helder, and witnessing the surrender of Rear-Admiral Story’s squadron, he followed Capt. Lawford, as Midshipman, in Aug. 1800, into the Polyphemus 64, which ship formed part of Lord Nelson’s division in the attack upon the Danish line of defence before Copenhagen, 2 April, 1801. In the course of 1803 he became in succession attached to the Achille and Courageux 74’s, both commanded, the latter in the West Indies, by Capt. John Okes Hardy; and he next, between 1803 and the close of 1807, served, principally on the Home station, in the Britannia 100, Captain (afterwards Rear-Admiral) the Earl of Northesk, Avon sloop, Capt. Fras. Jackson Snell, and Audacious 74, Capts. John Lawford and Thos. Le Marchant Gosselin. Of the latter ship he was created a Lieutenant 25 April, 1807. His succeeding appointments were – 24 Dec. in that year, to the Racehorse 18, stationed at first off Guernsey, and then at the Cape of Good Hope, whence he invalided in July, 1810 – 6 March, 1811, for a few weeks, to the Recruit sloop, Capt. Humphrey Fleming Senhouse, at Newfoundland – 28 Sept. following, to the Brisk 16, Capt. Eyles Mounsher, on the Irish station – and, 28 June, 1813, to the Forth 40, Capt. Sir Wm. Bolton, employed in the North Sea and North America. He returned to England in May, 1815; and has since been on half-pay.