# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Purcell, Edward

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​PURCELL. (Captain, 1828. f-p., 20; h-p., 23.)
Edward Purcell is youngest son of the late Tobias Pureell, Esq., of Timogue Castle, Queen’s co., Ireland, Captain in the 1st Fencible Light Dragoons.
This officer entered the Navy, 9 June, 1804, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Niobe 40, Capt. Matt. Henry Scott, and, after cruizing for 18 months in the Channel and off the coasts of Spain and Portugal, removed, in Jan. 1806, to the Impétueux 74, Capt. John Lawford, also attached to the force in the Channel, whence, on rejoining Capt. Scott, as Midshipman, in the course of the same year, on board the Dragon 74, he proceeded to the West Indies. Being again, in Dec. 1808, placed under the orders of Capt. Lawford in the Impétueux, he was afforded an opportunity, in 1809, of accompanying the expedition to the Walcheren, where he commanded an armed launch in the operations against Flushing and was for five weeks employed with the flotilla up the E. Scheldt. In 1810 we find him, with the same launch under his orders, stationed on the river Tagus, during the occupation of the lines of Torres Vedras by the British army; a service which, for nearly two months, brought him into perpetual collision with the enemy’s field pieces and riflemen at Villa Franca and along that bank of the river. In common with the other officers attached to the flotilla, Mr. Purcell received the thanks of Lord Wellington. In Dec. 1810 he returned home in the Elizabeth 74, for the purpose ​of rejoining his patron, Capt. Scott, who had been just appointed to the Marlborough 74. Being, on his arrival, transferred to the Amethyst 36, Capt. Jacob Walton, he had the misfortune, on 16 of the following Feb., to be wrecked in that ship in Plymouth Sound. In April, 1811, a few weeks after he had been received on board the Marlborough, he was transferred to the Victory 100, bearing the flag of Sir Jas. Saumarez in the Baltic. In Sept. of the same year, with one of two boats under his command, he attacked, boarded, and assisted in carrying two Danish gun-vessels strongly posted among the rocks in Wingo Sound, where the British sustained a loss of 3 men wounded, and the enemy, who were five times more numerous than their assailants, of 2 killed and 5 wounded. For his conduct on the occasion Mr. Purcell received the thanks of Sir Jas. Saumarez, who nominated him, 9 Nov. ensuing Acting-Lieutenant of the Marlborough – an appointment which the Admiralty confirmed 4 Dec. in the same year. His succeeding appointments were – in the course of 1812, to the Muros schooner, Capt. Jas. Aberdour, again to the Marlborough, and to the Chatham 74, bearing the flag of his friend, then Rear-Admiral Scott, all on the Home station – 28 April, 1815, to the Argo 44, as Flag-Lieutenant to Rear-Admiral Scott in the Downs – 6 Feb. 1816 (six months after he had left the Argo) to the Rivoli 74, Capt. Chas. Ogle, lying at Portsmouth – 24 July following, as First, to the Driver sloop, Capts. John Ross and Chas. Hope Reid, under whom he was frequently sent away in boats for the suppression of smuggling on the west coast of Scotland – and, 7 Sept. 1818, to the Tribune 42, Capt. Nesbit Josiah Willoughby, employed at first on the Irish station (where he encountered many narrow escapes while in pursuit of contraband traders) and afterwards in the West Indies. In June, 1820, being then at Barbadoes, he was placed in acting command of the Falmouth 20. In that vessel, his appointment to which was confirmed 9 Sept. following, he continued for three years on the West India station, whence he returned to England, and was paid off in July, 1823. During his passage home orders were sent to the Commander-in-Chief at Jamaica to place his name on the Admiralty list for promotion; but as it was not in his power to return thither he was doomed to remain without promotion until 25 Aug. 1828; previously to which period he had been appointed Second Captain of the Gloucester 74, Capt. Joshua Sydney Horton. Although possessed of the strongest testimonials, he has not been since able to procure employment. Agents – Messrs. Stilwell.