A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Reynolds, George
REYNOLDS. (Retired Commander, 1831. f-p., 31; h-p., 35.)
George Reynolds was born in Oct. 1766. This officer entered the Navy, 6 June, 1781, as Ordinary, on board the Prothée 64, Capt. Chas. Buckner, with whom, after sharing in Rodney’s action, 12 April, 1782, he removed to the Royal Oak 74. He returned from the West Indies in June, 1783, and between the following Oct. and July, 1794, was employed at Home, in the South Seas and Mediterranean, and again in the West Indies, as Midshipman and Master’s Mate, in the Calypso 18, Capt. Ralph Dundas, Helena 16, Capt. Benj. Hulke, Cockatrice 14, Lieut.-Commander Geo. Hurne, Pandora 24, Capt. Edw. Edwards, St. Albans 64, Capt. Jas. Vashon, and Europa 50, Commodore John Ford. The Pandora, having been sent to the Pacific in search of the mutineers of the Bounty, was wrecked on her passage home in Torres Strait 29 Aug. 1791. Thirty-five of the crew perished; and the remainder, in number 99, were reduced to the necessity of proceeding in four open boats to Timor, a Dutch settlement distant 1100 miles, upon 2 ounces of biscuit and 2 wine-glasses of water each a-day. On_leaving the Europa Mr. Reynolds was made Lieutenant, 10 July, 1794, into his former ship the St. Albans, commanded in succession by Capts. Jas. Vashon and Thos. Macnamara Russell; under the latter of whom he remained for some time in the West Indies and then took convoy to St. Helena. Removing with Capt. Russell, as First-Lieutenant, in Feb. 1796, into the Vengeance 74, he served in that ship at the capture of Ste. Lucie and Trinidad and in the unsuccessful attack upon Puerto Rico. With the exception of a few months during the peace of Amiens and of a short attachment as Senior Lieutenant on the renewal of hostilities to the Winchelsea 32, Capt. Wm. Mitchell, Mr. Reynolds was employed, from Sept. 1799 until July, 1807, in the Zealand 64, flag-ship at the Nore of Vice-Admirals Graeme and Rowley. During the next seven years and five months he had charge of a Signal-station at West Wittering, near Chichester. He accepted his present rank 30 March, 1831.
Commander Reynolds is a widower with four children.