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A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Lyall, George

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1813491A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Lyall, GeorgeWilliam Richard O'Byrne

LYALL. (Lieut., 1825. f-p., 13; h-p., 21.)

George Lyall, born 6 Jan. 1799, is second son of the late Capt. Wm. Lyall, R.N., who fell into the hands of the enemy during his passage home in a packet from Halifax, suffered a consequent captivity of eight years, and died in June, 1814, three days only after his return to England. His brother, James, is a Purser and Paymaster R.N. (1833).

This officer entered the Royal Naval College 9 Dec. 1813; and embarked, 10 Dec. 1816, as Midshipman, on board the Larne 20, Capt. Abraham Lowe, under whom he was for two years employed in the West Indies, and was often sent away in the boats for the purpose of cruizing after pirates and slavers. Joining, in Jan. 1819, the Active 46, to which ship, commanded by Capts. Sir Jas. Alex. Gordon and Andrew King, he continued attached, in the capacity of Admiralty-Midshipman, until Sept. 1824, he partook of much special service, and was for several months engaged at the blockade of Algiers. On the date last mentioned (having passed his examination in 1822) he removed, as Mate, to the Dartmouth 42, Capts. Hon. Jas. Ashley Maude and Henry Dundas, and was again ordered to the West Indies, where his conduct in boarding and carrying, in a boat with only 11 men, a piratical schooner off the north coast of Cuba, on which occasion he was slightly wounded in the left leg, procured him a commission dated 1 July, 1825. He remained in the Dartmouth until the following Dec.; and was then received as a Supernumerary into the Eden 26, Capt. John Lawrence. He has not been afloat since July, 1826.

The Lieutenant married, 6 Nov. 1827, Catherine, youngest daughter of the late Robt. Lindsay, Esq., of Almeriecloss, Forfar, N.B., by whom he has issue five children.