45
BARCLAY—BARKER.
next year and a half, shared, part of the time in charge of a flat-bottomed boat, in all the arduous operations at the defence of Cadiz, Tarifa, and Malaga – assisted in escorting the troops under Sir Thos. Graham from Cadiz to Algesiras, and in conveying away the wounded, amongst whom was the French General Kufin, after the battle of Barossa – was also repeatedly opposed to the heavy fire of the numerous French batteries along the coast, a shot from one of which, on 22 March, 1811, struck the boat he was in and ultimately caused it to sink – and, under the immediate orders of Capt. Geo. Cockburn, thrice commanded the Stately’s yawl in action with the enemy’s privateers. On 18 Aug. 1812, Mr. Barclay became Master’s Mate of the Superb 74, Capt. Hon. Chas. Paget, stationed in the Channel, whence, after contributing to the capture of several American vessels of great value, one of which, the Star of New York, he brought into port, he visited the coast of Africa, the West Indies, and South America. While afterwards on the shores of North America, he was in active employment against New York, New London, and New Bedford; and waa also present at the attack upon Wareham, on which occasion he commanded the rocket-boat, set fire to a large cotton-factory, and aided in destroying between 30 and 40 sail of shipping. On her return home, in March, 1815, the Superb received the flag of Rear-Admiral Hon. Sir Henry Hotham, and during the “hundred days” was engaged in affording assistance to the Royalists in La Vendée. Mr. Barclay, soon after the surrender of Napoleon Buonaparte, had the honour of assisting the unfortunate Emperor up the side of the ship when proceeding to breakfast with the Commander-in-Chief. On 27 Aug. 1816, being still in the Superb, he took part, under Capt. Chas. Ekins, in the battle of Algiers. On that memorable day he had charge of the seven foremost guns on the lower deck – twice commanded the launch, once for the purpose of throwing rockets to destroy the enemy’s fleet, and, again, to assist in extricating the Queen Charlotte from the course of a blazing frigate, then drifting out of the harbour – was the bearer, with the jolly-boat under his orders, of a communication from the Commander-in-Chief to Rear-Admiral Milne – and proved of further utility by his great exertions in removing the Superb out of reach of gun-shot to a place of safety. For his zeal, energy, and exemplary conduct throughout the whole of the proceedings he received the high and deserved encomiums of his Captain, and of Lieut. Joseph Soady, who had succeeded to the command on the latter and the First Lieutenant being placed hors de combat; yet, although he had passed his examination 16 months previously, he was unable, until after a lapse of nearly seven years, to procure his commission. On quitting the Superb, Mr. Barclay, in Sept. 1818, joined the Vengeur 74, Capt. Fred. Lewis Maitland, in which ship we find him accompanying Viscount Beresford from South America to Lisbon, and the King of the Two Sicilies from Naples to Leghorn. In April, 1820, he became Admiralty Midshipman of the Rochfort 80, flagship of Sir Graham Moore, in the Mediterranean; and, on his return home in the spring of 1821, at the instance of his friend the Hon. Capt. Paget, joined that officer in the Apollo yacht, and, on subsequently following him into the Royal George yacht, attended George IV. to Scotland in the summer of 1822. He was at length advanced to his present rank, 6 Sept. 1823; and since 5 April, 1829, has been in the Coast Guard.
He married, 26 March, 1826, Miss Anne Dance, and has issue two sons and six daughters.
BARCLAY. (Retired Commander, 1838. f-p., 18; h-p., 32.)
John Barclay entered the Navy, 1 May, 1797, on board the Mastiff, Lieut.-Commander John Black. In Feb. 1798, he became Midshipman of the Repulse 64, Capt. Jas. Alms, and, after an intermediate servitude in the Mediterranean, was on board that ship when lost off Ushant, 10 March, 1800. During the next five years we find him successively serving in the Arethusa 38, Capt. Thos. Wolley, Carysfort 28, Capt. Adam Drummond, Hydra 38, Capt. Geo. Mundy, and Victory 100, bearing the flag of Lord Nelson, whom he accompanied to the West Indies and back in pursuit of the combined squadrons of France and Spain. On 1 Aug. 1803, Mr. Barclay appears to have in part commanded the boats of the Hydra at the capture of the French armed lugger Le Favori, of 4 carriage-guns, hauled close to the beach about two miles to the westward of the river Toucques, near Havre de Grace, and defended by a constant fire of musketry from a body of troops, and also from the crew of the vessel, who had landed and posted themselves behind some sand-banks. On his eventual return, in the Victory, from the West Indies, he was appointed Acting-Lieutenant of the Britannia 100, bearing the flag of Lord Northesk, to which ship, after participating in the battle of Trafalgar, he was confirmed by commission dated 20 Nov. 1805. His subsequent appointments, we find, were – 9 June, 1806, to the Latona 38, Capt. Jas. Atholl Wood, under whom he served at the reduction of Curaçoa, and the blockade of the Danish West India islands in 1807 – 16 Oct. in the latter year, to the Thais, Capt. Ferrieres, chiefly employed at the Cape of Good Hope – 17 June, 1809, to the Fisgard 38, Capts. Sir Wm. Bolton and Fras. Mason, in which frigate he accompanied the expedition to Flushing, assisted in bringing off the rearguard of the British army at the subsequent evacuation of the Walcheren, and was otherwise actively employed – and, 2 June, 1813, to the President 46, Capts. Fras. Mason and Archibald Duff, under whom he witnessed the storming of San Sebastian, and served off the coasts of Ireland and Scotland, for the purpose of affording them protection against the American cruisers. Having been on half-pay since 4 Sept. 1815, he at length accepted the rank he now holds, 12 May, 1838.
Commander Barclay married, in April, 1843, Caroline, daughter of the late Hon. Mr. Justice Rooke.
BARCLAY. (Lieut., 1814. f-p., 9; h-p., 32.)
Robert Barclay was born, 13 Sept. 1793, at Tain, co. Ross, N.B.
This officer entered the Navy, 24 Oct. 1806, as Fst.-cl. Vol,, on board the Narcissus 32, Capt. Chas. Malcolm, with whom he continued to serve, in the same frigate and the Rhin 38, until 26 Nov. 1813. He assisted, while in the former ship, at the capture, 18 Aug. 1807, of the Spanish schooner Cantela, pierced for 12 guns, and also at the reduction of the Saintes in 1809; and, on his removal to the Rhin, he contributed to the capture of four privateers, carrying in the whole 58 guns and 310 men; was actively employed in co-operation with the patriots on the north coast of Spain; and was twice wounded while serving in the boats as Master’s Mate. On leaving the Rhin he became Acting-Lieutenant of the Emulous 12, Capts. Wm. M‘Kenzie Godfrey, John Gore, and Thos. Wren Carter, on the Jamaica station; whence, having been confirmed by commission dated 14 Dec. 1814, he returned home, in Sept. 1815, on board the Wolverene 18, Capt. Geo. Guy Burton. Unable to procure further employment, he has since been on half-pay.
He married, 18 Sept. 1836, the only daughter of the late T. B. Matthews, Esq., of Rochester, and by that lady, who died in 1839, had issue two sons and two daughters.
BARKER. (Commander, 1845.)
Charles Barker entered the Navy 22 Dec. 1826; passed his examination in 1833; and obtained his commission 28 June, 1838. His after appointments were – in the course of 1839, to the Inconstant 36 and Snake 16, Capts. Dan. Pring and John Baker Porter Hay, on the North America and West India station – 31 Oct. 1840, to
