A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Godfrey, George Robert

William Richard O'Byrne

Exported from Wikisource on September 14, 2024

GODFREY. (LIEUT., 1806. F-P., 27; H-P., 29.)

GEORGE ROBERT GODFREY was born in May, 1775 or 6, and died, after a protracted illness of five years, 10 April, 1845. He was son of Robt. Godfrey, Esq.; nephew of Geo. Godfrey, Esq., at one time Purser of H.M.S. ANDROMEDA, who married a sister of Admiral Sir John Duckworth, G.C.B.; and cousin of Admiral John Child Purvis.

This officer entered the Navy, in 1789, as a Volunteer, on board LA PRUDENTE 38, Capt. Henry Trollope, and afterwards made two voyages round the world with Capt. Ellis in the STOURMOUNT and ELIZA. In Oct. 1794 he became Midshipman of the EXPERIMENT lugger, Lieut.-Commander Geo. Hayes, on the Home and Mediterranean stations, where, until Sept. 1803, he also served, latterly as Master’s Mate, in the MAHONESA 34, Capts. Devonshire and John Giffard, ACHILLE 74, Capts. Hon. Henry Edwin Stanhope, Geo. Murray, Edw. Buller, and Jas. Wallis, AMELIA frigate, Capt. Lord Proby, and UTRECHT 64, flag-ship of Sir Edw. Thornbrough. He then joined the PRINCE OF ORANGE 74, bearing the flag of Admiral Drury, from whom (having passed in 1800) he received an order to officiate as Acting-Lieutenant 1 Nov. 1804. After a continued servitude in that capacity, both in the PRINCESS OF ORANGE and in LA FLÊCHE, Capt. Thos. White, Mr. Godfrey was at length formally promoted on 24 April, 1806, and appointed First-Lieutenant 23 Aug. following of the KENT 74, Capt. Thos. Rogers. On 13 Dec. 1810 he received a very severe wound while serving, as First-Lieutenant, with the boats of that ship and a squadron, under Capt. Fras. Wm. Fane, at the destruction, in the mole of Palamos, of a large convoy, protected by two batteries – on which occasion, out of 600 British officers and men, upwards- of 200 were killed, wounded, and taken prisoners.[1] My. Godfrey, whose exertions throughout were conspicuous, continued in the Kent until the early part of 1813. He then joined the VIGO 74, bearing the flag in the Baltic of Rear-Admiral Jas. Nicoll Morris, and, on 3 Sept. 1814, was appointed Senior of the AQUILON 32, Capts. Thos. Burton and Rich. Budd Vincent, on the Mediterranean station. He went on half-pay 30 April, 1816; and was not afterwards employed.

The subject of this memoir, who obtained the out-pension of Greenwich Hospital 9 Jan. 1843, suffered much in the service of his country. He was often under the enemy’s fire, was much battered in his person from the effects of numerous wounds, and had the misfortune to be deprived in action of the faculty of hearing. He married a Miss Swayer.

1. ↑ Vide Gaz. 1811, p. 229.

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A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Godfrey, George Robert

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