Hugh Talbot Burgoyne

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Captain Hugh Talbot Burgoyne, VC RN

Captain Hugh Talbot Burgoyne VC RN (17 July 1833 – 7 September 1870) was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross. Born in Dublin, he was the son of John Fox Burgoyne and the grandson of John Burgoyne.

Burgoyne was a 21-year-old Royal Navy lieutenant, serving in the Crimean War when he performed the following deed for which he was awarded the VC.

Details

On 29 May 1855, in the Sea of Azov, Crimea, Lieutenant Burgoyne of HMS "Swallow", with Lieutenant Cecil William Buckley from HMS "Miranda" and Gunner John Robarts from HMS "Ardent", volunteered to land at a beach where the Russian army were in strength. They were out of covering gunshot range of the ships offshore and met considerable enemy opposition, but managed to set fire to corn stores and ammunition dumps and destroy enemy equipment before embarking again.

Burgoyne was Commander on HMS "Ganges" under Captain John Fulford during that vessel's service in the waters of the Colonies of Vancouver Island and British Columbia during the fledgling years of the latter colony's establishment. "When the American merchant ship "Northern Eagle" was burned in Esquimalt Harbour, Captain Burgoyne was highly commended for his efforts to save everything possible from the burning ship. Seamen from the "Ganges", "Pylades", "Tribune", and "Plumper" also assisted." [ [http://www.elp.gov.bc.ca/bcgn-bin/bcg10?name=2199 Canadian Geographical Names Database, quoted in the British Columbia Geographical Names Database listing "Burgoyne Bay"] ]

Later career

Burgoyne later achieved the rank of captain and was killed when in command of HMS "Captain" (1869), which capsized off Cape Finisterre during a gale on 7 September 1870. This revolutionary masted turret ship was the subject of considerable controversy during its design and construction and its loss was attributed to its poor stability.

Burgoyne is buried in Brompton Cemetery, London. [http://www.brompton.org/Residents.htm]

Legacy

Burgoyne Bay in British Columbia was named after him in 1859.

References

Listed in order of publication year
*The Register of the Victoria Cross (1981, 1988 and 1997)
*The Irish Sword (Brian Clarke 1986)
*Irelands VCs (Dept of Economic Development 1995)
*Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
*Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)