A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Purvis, George Thomas Maitland
PURVIS. (Commander, 1842. f-p., 12; h-p., 20.)
George Thomas Maitland Purvis, born 10 June, 1802, is only son of the late Geo. Purvis, Esq., R.N., Secretary to Earls Howe and St. Vincent, and subsequently a Magistrate for co. Hants, by Renira Charlotte, daughter of David Maitland, Esq.; and first-cousin and brother-in-law of Rear-Admiral John Brett Purvis.
This officer entered the Navy, 3 July, 1815, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Pique 36, Capt. Hon. Anthony Maitland, lying at Portsmouth, where he removed, in the course of the same year, to the Amphion 32 and Magicienne 36, both commanded by Capt. John Brett Purvis. In Jan. 1816 he became a Student at the Royal Naval College; and on leaving that institution he again, in Jan. 1819, embarked on board the Rochfort 80, Capt. Andrew Pellet Green; in which ship and in the Ganymede 26, Capt. Hon. Robt. Cavendish Spencer, and Glasgow 50, Capt. Hon. Anthony Maitland, we find him employed until March, 1821, in the Mediterranean. After serving for a year and nine months at home, again in the Mediterranean, and in South America on board the Tyne, Capt. Kearney White, Aurora 46, Capt. Henry Prescott, Rose 18, Capt. Thos. Ball Clowes, Révolutionnaire 46, Capt. Hon. Fleetwood Broughton Reynolds Pellew, Delight sloop, Capt. Robt. Hay, Beaver 10, Capt. Arch. Maclean, and Créole 42, Commodore Sir Thos. Masterman Hardy, he was nominated, on the station last named, Acting-Lieutenant, 1 Jan. 1823, of the Blossom 24, commanded by his former Captain, A. Maclean. He was confirmed to that vessel 5 April following, and, returning to England in June, 1824, was subsequently appointed – 11 June, 1825, to the Gloucester 74, Capt. Joshua Sydney Horton, lying at Sheerness – 16 July in the same year, to the Helicon 10, Capt. Chas. Dyke Acland, fitting for the Cape of Good Hope, whence he came home in 1826 – 3 Oct. 1829, to the Winchester 52, bearing the flag in the West Indies of Sir Edw. Griffith Colpoys, with whom he served for about 12 months – in Oct. 1835, as First, to the Sulphur 8, Capt. Fred. Wm. Beechey, which vessel, after having fitted her out, he was obliged in consequence of family affliction to leave – and 6 Oct. 1841, in a similar capacity, to the Cambrian 36, Capt. Henry Ducie Chads. In the latter ship he escorted the Governor-General to India, and was actively employed against the Chinese pirates at Amoy. He was advanced to the rank of Commander 6 July, 1842, and came home a passenger in the Calliope 26, Capt. Aug. Leopold Kuper. He arrived in England in Feb. 1843, and has not been since afloat.
Commander Purvis married, 10 June, 1828, Mary Jane, daughter of Vice-Admiral Sir Fras. Wm. Austen, K.C.B.; and, that lady dying in 1837, secondly, 18 Jan. 1838, Esther North, daughter of the Rev. Wm. Harrison, Vicar of Fareham, Hants. By his first marriage he has issue three sons (the eldest, Geo. Thos. Maitland, a Midshipman R.N.) and two daughters; by the second, one daughter. Agents – Messrs. Halford and Co.