A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Sayer, George (b)
SAYER. (Lieut., 1809. f-p., 13; h-p., 31.)
George Sayer is cousin of the late Capt. Geo. Sayer, R.N. He lost a brother under Sir John Moore at Corunna.
This officer entered the Navy, 11 Oct. 1803, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Cerberus 32, Capt. Wm. Selby, employed at first off Guernsey and then in the West Indies, where he was wounded by a musket-ball in the leg while serving as Midshipman in the boats under Lieut. Wm. Coote, and was highly extolled for his unsurpassable gallantry at the cutting-out, on the night of 2 Jan. 1807, of two of the enemy’s vessels, defended by a most tremendous fire from the batteries, near Pearl Rock, Martinique, which killed 2 men and wounded 10.[1] He was in consequence presented with a gratuity from the Patriotic Fund. After assisting at the reduction of the islands of Marie-Galante and Deseada he removed, in July, 1808, to the Audacious 74, Capts. Thos. Le Marchant Gosselin and Patrick Campbell; under the former of whom we find him escorting Sir John Moore’s army to the shores of Portugal and aiding, in Jan. 1809, at its embarkation at Corunna. In Oct. 1809, at which period he had been for six months employed in the Baltic in the Victory 100, flag-ship of Sir Jas. Saumarez, he was nominated Acting-Lieutenant of the Tartar 32, Capt. Joseph Baker. To that frigate he was confirmed 11 Nov. following; and he was subsequently appointed – 8 Sept. 1810 (six months after he had invalided from the Tartar) to the Bedford 74, Capt. Jas. Walker, also in the North Sea – 7 April, 1812, again to the Victory, in which ship he remained until the ensuing Dec. – 4 May and 30 Dec. 1813, to the Christian VII. 80 and Zealous 74, Capts. Ball, Boys, and Anderson, employed in the North Sea and Channel, and also on the coast of North America, whence he returned about Jan. 1815 – and, 4 April, 1824, to the Britannia 120, bearing the flag of Sir Jas. Saumarez at Plymouth. He has been on half-pay since April, 1825.
Lieut. Sayer married, 8 April, 1828, Roberta, daughter of the late Robt. Carwing, Esq., of Sandwich.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1807, p. 394.