Barrie, Robert, 1774-1841.

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Admiral Sir Robert Barrie (1774-1841) served in the British Navy and participated in the Vancouver Expedition, 1791-1795; the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars; the War of 1812; and served as naval commissioner in Canada, 1819-1834.

From the description of Admiral Robert Barrie papers, 1765-1953. (Duke University Library). WorldCat record id: 19242257

Robert Barrie was born May 5, 1774, in St Augustine, Florida, to Dr. Robert Barrie of Sanquhar, Scotland, and Dorothea (Dolly) Gardner. His father died a year later, and in 1784, Dolly moved her family back to Preston, England. She soon married textile manufacturer George Clayton.

On June 5, 1788, Barrie entered the Royal Navy and worked under his uncle Captain Alan Gardner. Two years later he was appointed midshipman on the Discovery for Captain George Vancouver's voyage to the Pacific. Upon return to England in 1795, Barrie was promoted quickly to lieutenant, then to commander in 1801, to captain of the Sloop Calypso in 1802, and served as captain of the Pomone between 1806 and 1811.

In 1812, Barrie became the captain of the HMS Dragon and commodore in charge of the British squadron. In this year he played an important role in the blockade of Chesapeake Bay and captured 85 American vessels. Barrie participated in many battles on the Atlantic coast during the War of 1812, including the British attack on the Penobscot River region in Maine in 1814.

After the war, Barrie married Julia Wharton Ingilby (c.1795-1836), daughter of Sir John Ingilby, in Warrington (Cheshire), England. They moved to France, and had four daughters and one son.

In January 1819, Barrie moved to Canada as the commissioner of the dockyard at Kingston, located on Point Frederick. There he commanded the inland waterways of the Canadas, such as the Great Lakes and the port of Quebec, and prepared the navy for possible future engagements with the United States. He was called back to England in 1825, and was promoted to commodore first class before returning to Kingston in 1827. He relocated permanently to England in 1834, when the dockyard establishment was broken up, and, shortly after, was knighted Knight Commander of the Hanoverian Order (KCH) by King William IV, promoted to Rear Admiral in 1837, and made Knight Commander of Bath (KCB) in 1840. Barrie died on June 7, 1841, in Swarthdale, England.

From the guide to the Robert Barrie papers, Barrie, Robert papers, 1812-1831, 1814-1815, (William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Robert Barrie papers 1812-1831 1814-1815 Barrie, Robert papers William L. Clements Library
creatorOf William L. Clements Library. Viscounts Melville papers, 1600-1851, bulk 1780-1830. William L. Clements Library
creatorOf Barrie, Robert, 1774-1841. Admiral Robert Barrie papers, 1765-1953. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
creatorOf Barrie, Robert, 1774-1841. Robert Barrie papers, 1812-1831, bulk 1814-1815. William L. Clements Library
referencedIn Viscounts Melville papers 1600-1851 1780-1830 Melville, Viscounts papers William L. Clements Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Barrie, Robert, Dr. person
associatedWith Cockburn, George, Sir, 1772-1853. person
associatedWith Great Britain. Army corporateBody
associatedWith Great Britain. Royal Navy corporateBody
associatedWith Great Britain. Royal Navy Officers. corporateBody
associatedWith Macnamara, James, 1768-1826. person
associatedWith Manby, Thomas, 1769-1834. person
associatedWith William L. Clements Library. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Canada
Chesapeake Bay (Md. and Va.)
Cumberland Island (Ga.)
Florida
Cumberland Island (Ga.)
United States
United States
Canada
Chesapeake Bay (Md. and Va.)
Canada
United States
Subject
Napoleonic Wars, 1800-1815
Occupation
Activity

Person

Active 1765

Active 1953

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