A Naval Biographical Dictionary/O'Brien, Joseph
O’BRIEN. (Captain, 1829. f-p., 1 6; h-p., 24.)
Joseph O’Brien entered the Navy, 25 June, 1807, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Edgar 74, Capts.- Jas. Macnamara and Stephen Poyntz, employed off Rochefort and in the Baltic and North Sea. In Aug. 1808 he was present, as Midshipman, at the embarkation of the Spanish troops under the Marquis de la Romana; and in March, 1810, he removed to the Berwick 74, Capts. Jas. Macnamara, Sir Robt. Laurie, and Edw. Brace, stationed at first off Flushing and Cherbourg, and then in the Mediterranean. In the latter ship, of which he was created a Lieutenant 1 Oct. 1814, he witnessed the fall of Genoa, and was present in 1815 at the siege of Gaeta. While next attached, between July and Nov. 1816, to the Impregnable 98, also commanded by Capt. Brace, Mr. O’Brien fought under the flag of Rear-Admiral David Milne at the bombardment of Algiers. His succeeding appointments were, on the West India station – 11 Dec. 1822, to the Gloucester 74, bearing the broad pendant of Sir Edw. W. C. R. Owen – 29 Dec. 1823, to the Pyramus 42, Capt. Fras. Newcombe – 10 Oct. 1824, to the command of the Renegade schooner – and, 1 Nov. following, to the Rattlesnake 28, Capts. Hugh Patton and John Leith. He was advanced (from the Isis 50, flag-ship of Sir Lawrence Wm. Halsted) to the command of the Beaver sloop 3 May, 1826; and next appointed (still in the West Indies) – 24 April, 1828, to the Espiègle 18 – and, 5 Jan. 1829, to the Slaney 20. Since his Post-promotion,which took place 8 Aug. in the latter year, the Captain has been on half-pay. Agents – Messrs. Halford and Co.