A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Saurin, Edward
SAURIN. (Captain, 1814. f-p., 9; h-p., 35.)
Edward Saurin, is son of the Right Hon. Wm. Saurin, formerly Attorney-General for Ireland.
This officer entered the Navy, in Aug. 1803, as a Volunteer, on board the Euryalus 36, Capt. Hon. Henry Blackwood, in which ship, attached to the force on the Irish station, he remained for a few weeks. He next, in May, 1804, joined the Loire 46, Capt. Fred. Lewis Maitland, with whom he continued almost uninterruptedly employed in the same frigate, and, as Midshipman and as Master’s Mate, in the Volontaire 38 and Emerald 36, until promoted to the rank of Lieutenant 2 May, 1810. He was under the fire, during that period, of the batteries in Muros Bay, when they were gallantly stormed and carried, and the privateers Confiance and Bélier taken, by the boats under the late Sir Jas. Lucas Yeo, 4 June, 1805. He assisted also, on 25 of the same month, in capturing Le Vaillant of 30 guns; was in company with L’Egyptienne frigate at the taking, after an obstinate resistance, of La Libre of 40 guns; conveyed, in July, 1806, to Sir Rich. Keats, off L’Orient, intelligence which led to the capture of Le Rhin of 44 guns; aided at the capture of many other vessels and at the blockade of Rochefort; contributed, on the night of 13 March, 1808, to the destruction, in Vivero harbour, of a large French schooner, L’Apropos, of 8 guns and 70 men;[1] and was present, in April, 1809, at the destruction of the French shipping in Aix Roads. After serving for about four months at Portsmouth in the Ethalion 36, Capt. Edm. Heywood, he was appointed, 17 Feb. 1811, to the Alcmène 38, Capt. Edwards Lloyd Graham, fitting for the Mediterranean, where he remained until July, 1812. On 22 May in that year he made an attack with four boats, near the island of Lissa, upon a large armed convoy, the result of which was the capture of one of the enemy’s principal vessels, but not until nearly the whole of her crew had been either killed or wounded. The slaughter on the part of the British was almost equally dreadful, the pinnace alone sustaining a loss of at least 20 officers and men killed and wounded. Among the latter was their gallant leader, who by his voice and example encouraged the rest, and, notwithstanding he was severely wounded, still persevered. He lost his right arm, his left was shot through, his neckcloth was cut through the different folds, and his sabre broken by a ball. He was advanced in consequence to the rank of Commander 12 Dec. 1812, and was awarded, 24 Feb. 1813, a pension, increased, in Dec. 1815, to 300l. per annum. His last appointment was, 6 July, 1813, to the Hope 10, in which vessel he served on the Home station until advanced to his present rank 7 June, 1814. He accepted the Retirement 1 Oct. 1846.
Capt. Saurin has been for many years a Commissioner of Stamps and Taxes. He married, 15 July, 1828, Lady Mary Ryder, second daughter of the Earl of Harrowby.
- ↑ On this occasion he landed with a party under Lieut. Chas. Bertram, assisted in taking possession of a battery (whose guns, 8 24-pounders, were at the same time spiked), and, after having encountered and routed the crew, was for several hours engaged (under the annihilating fire of a body of troops not 30 yards distant) in a fruitless attempt to launch the schooner, which had been run on the rocks, and was in consequence set fire to and blown up. – Vide Gaz. 1808, p. 416.