Royal Naval Biography/Bonifant, Bartholomew
BARTHOLOMEW BONIFANT, Esq.
[Commander.]
Is a native of Corsica, and was at school with Napoleon Buonaparte. He obtained the rank of lieutenant in the British navy. Mar. 14th, 1809; served under Captain (now Sir Thomas J.) Cochrane, in the Ethalion frigate, on the West India station; afterwards under the flag of Rear-Admiral Francis Pickmore, in the Mediteranean; commanded for some time a ship employed in conveying bullocks, &c. from Barbary to Minorca and the fleet off Toulon; received an appointment to the Impregnable 98, fitting out for the flag of Sir Josias Rowley, in Mar. 1815; and was flag-lieutenant to Vice-Admiral Pickmore from Feb. 12th, 1817, until the demise of that worthy officer, at St. John’s, Newfoundland, Feb. 24th, 1818. His promotion to the rank of commander took place on the 20th April following.