Royal Naval Biography/Brine, George
GEORGE BRINE Esq.
[Post-Captain of 1818.]
A son of the late Admiral James Brine, and brother to Captain Augustus Brine, R.N.
This officer entered the navy, in 1797, as midshipman on board the Glory 98, then commanded by his father, and attached to the Channel fleet. In the following year, a diabolical plan, formed by about 150 of her crew, to throw all their officers overboard, and then run the ship into Brest harbour, was disclosed by one of the conspirators, who had taken offence at his infamous colleagues’ refusal to spare Mr. George Brine, from whom he had received frequent marks of kindness[1].
On his father being made a Rear-Admiral, in 1799, Mr. Brine joined the Prince 98, bearing the flag of Sir Roger Curtis, with whom he afterwards proceeded to the Cape of Good Hope, in the Lancaster 64. His promotion to the rank of lieutenant took place on that station, April 15, 1803; and he returned from thence, with the same officer, in the Diomede of 50 guns.
The Diomede subsequently bore the flag of Sir James Saumarez, at Guernsey; and Lieutenant Brine continued in her until his father’s appointment to the second command at Plymouth, when he proceeded thither, and served under his flag as long as it remained hoisted. He was afterwards successively appointed to the Boadicea frigate, Rose sloop, and Victory first rate; the latter fitting for the reception of Sir James Saumarez, as commander-in-chief on the Baltic station. This was in 1808; and Lieutenant Brine appears to have continued serving under the same distinguished officer until promoted by him to the command of the Reynard brig, Aug. 13, 1812. Towards the close of the same year, he was removed to the Sheldrake 16, on the North Sea station, which vessel he paid off at the termination of the war.
Captain Brine’s last appointment was, Aug. 25, 1815, to the Mosquito 18, fitting for the St. Helena station, from whence he returned to Portsmouth, Nov. 7, 1818. He obtained post rank on the 7th of the ensuing month.
Agent.– J. Hinxman, Esq.