we find him with Captain Blackwood, in the Warspite 74, until Feb. 1814; when he was appointed to the Desirée frigate, Captain William Wooldridge. His promotion to the rank of commander took place July 19th, 1814.
This officer’s subsequent appointments were, – Feb. 26th, 1819, to the Cherokee sloop, fitting out for the Leith station; where he continued upwards of three years: – and Oct, 1st, 1827, to the Prince Regent 120, bearing the flag of Sir Henry Blackwood, in the river Medway; in which ship he served, under the command of Captain the Hon. George Poulett, until advanced to his present rank, Aug. 25th, 1828.
Agents.– Messrs. Cooke, Halford, & Son.
EDWARD PURCELL, Esq.
[Captain of 1828.]
Was born at Tymogue Castle, in the Queen’s County, Ireland; and entered the royal navy, in June 1804, as midshipman on board the Niobe frigate. Captain (now Vice-Admiral) Matthew Henry Scott, employed as a Channel cruiser. Towards the end of 1807, he followed the same officer into the Dragon 74; and on that ship being paid off, after a trip to the West Indies, we find him joining l’Impetueux 76, Captain (now Admiral) John Lawford; by whom he was entrusted with the command of an armed launch during the operations against Flushing, in Aug. 1809. Subsequent to the reduction of Walcheren he ascended the East Scheldt, and served with the flotilla for a period of five weeks.
On her return home, l’Impetueux was ordered to Lisbon; and in 1810, when the British army retreated to the lines of Torres Vedras, Mr. Purcell again obtained the command of her launch, then armed with two carronades, and went up with other boats to Alhandra, for the purpose of annoying the French forces encamped on the banks of the Tagus. This service proved most harassing and severe, the boats being almost incessantly engaged with the enemy’s field-pieces and riflemen for nearly two months.
In Dec. 1810, Mr. Purcell was received on board the Elizabeth 74, for a passage home to join his first naval patron,
