Royal Naval Biography/Bridges, Philip Henry
PHILIP HENRY BRIDGES, Esq.
[Captain of 1827.]
We first find the name of this officer mentioned in an official letter from Captain (now Sir Frederick L.) Maitland to Admiral Sir John Colpoys, reporting the capture of the French national brig Venteux, by two boats belonging to the Loire frigate, close under the batteries of l’Isle de Bas, June 27th, 1803[1]: the following is an extract:–
“Mr. Bridges has served his time, and passed for Lieutenant nearly a year; of whose conduct Mr. Temple speaks in the highest terms, together with that of every officer and man under his command.”
On the 4th of the following month, Mr. Bridges was promoted to the rank of lieutenant; and in Jan. 1804, the Committee for managing the Patriotic Fund “resolved that a sword of Thirty Pounds value, with a suitable inscription, should be presented to him, as a token of the sense entertained of his distinguished merit.” He subsequently served under Captains the Hon. George Elliot, George Sayer (a), and Samuel Leslie, in the Hussar, Leda, and Theban, frigates, on the East India station; where he was appointed acting commander of the Zebra sloop, Dec. 8th, 1815; and promoted to the command of the Challenger 18, in Nov. 1816. His last appointments were, – in 1818, to act as captain of the Trincomalee 46, which ship he brought home from Bombay, and paid off in April 1819; – and, July 24th, 1827, to the Prince Regent 120, bearing the flag of Sir Henry Blackwood, and commanded by Captain the Hon. George Poulett, at Chatham, where he was serving when advanced to his present rank, on the 29th of Sept. following.
Agent.– J. Hinxman, Esq.