in the gun-boat service at Gibraltar, May 16th, 1805. On the reduction of that establishment, in Oct. following, he joined the Donegal 74, Captain (now Sir Pulteney) Malcolm; and, on the 23d of the same month, assisted at the capture of El Rayo, a Spanish first-rate, forming part of the division under Admiral Gravina, which, on its return to port after the battle of Trafalgar, had been immediately ordered to sea again, for the purpose of attempting the rescue of some of the disabled prizes. The other services in which he participated at this memorable period have been noticed in Vol. I. Part II. p. 592 et seq.
On the 12th Nov. 1805, Mr. Brett was appointed, by Collingwood, lieutenant of the Tigre 80, Captain Benjamin Hallowell (now Sir B. H. Carew); in Aug. 1806, to the Madras 54, Captain Charles Marsh Schomberg; in July, 1807, to the Repulse 74, Captain the Hon. Arthur Kaye Legge; and subsequently to the Queen 98, Captain Thomas George Shortland; all on the Mediterranean station, from whence he returned home in Sept. 1808. His subsequent appointments were, about Sept. 1808, to the Implacable 74, then commanded by Captain George Charles Mackenzie, but afterwards by Captain (now Sir T. Byam) Martin; – in Jan. 1810, to the Formidable 98, Captain James Nicoll Morris; and, in May, 1811, to the Egmont 74, Captain Joseph Bingham, under whom he served until advanced to his present rank, Feb. 1st. 1812. The Implacable was first employed in bringing home part of Sir John Moore’s gallant army from Corunna; and next on the Baltic station: – the Formidable formed part of a squadron under Sir Joseph Yorke, employed in escorting troops to Lisbon; and on her return was ordered to the Baltic; – the Egmont cruised for some time off Cherbourg, and ultimately bore the flag of Rear-Admiral George J. Hope, to whom was confided the care of the Russian fleet sent to this country for its better security, in the year 1812.
Commander Brett married, in Nov. 1821, Harriet, only surviving daughter of the late Thomas Brookes, of Henwick-house, co. Berks, Esq.
