Bpt 30 Jul 1786 aged 2 George Lewis Browne s/o William Browne & Mary620
Lieut aged 21 on the Victory at Trafalgar542 - died 1956616,617
Is this Google entry relevant?(site not found):
GenData... Details, JOHN MAJOR, GOOD, 43, HEAD, GROCER, FORE STREET, PURITON, SOM, Somerset -A ... Details, GEORGE, BROWNE, 68, HEAD, CAPTN R NAVY MAGISTRATE COUNTY OF SOMERSET...www.dowd.co.uk/GenData/1851_Census_Area.php?census...0-A%20Bridgwater&; - 53k
“We also have an interesting obituary of Captain G.L. Browne, from the Bridgwater Times. Browne was at the battle of Trafalgar on the Victory and his son, S.W. Browne, married John Carslake's daughter, Thomasine Leigh Carslake”.542
Bridgwater Bay's Maritime Inheritance
5th May - 29th June 2005
(Special opening of the Museum on Sunday 22nd May for the River Festival.)
Celebrating the200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar, especially remembering Captain George Browne of Bridgwater.
621
NAVAL OFFICERS 1849
PART 1 - A to D
O'BYRNE'S NAVAL BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY of 1849 A to D
“BROWNE George Capt 1840 [b] 15Jan1784 [entered] 01Jul1797 [spouse] PYKE Miss [marr] 1814”183
Christ Church Unitarian Chapel, Dampiet Street (South side), Bridgwater
Civil Parish: Bridgwater LISTED BUILDING grade: II* Grid Ref: ST 29958 36929 (ST 23 NE) . . C18 and C19 wall tablets include one to George Lewis Browne who brought Nelson's body back to England; it read "Captain Browne obtained the trust and highest commendation of Admiral Lord Nelson under whose immediate command he distinguished himself at the Battle of Trafalgar."619 BRIDGWATER TIMES 28 October 2005 online:
‘TOWN PAYS TRIBUTE TO TRAFALGAR HERO
18:00 - 28 October 2005
Celebrations to mark the 200th anniversary of Nelson's victory at the Battle of Trafalgar were held across the country - and in Bridgwater a tribute was paid to the town's own hero Captain George Lewis Browne.
In the famous sea battle against the combined French and Spanish fleet, Captain Browne played his part when he helped to create the famous message - 'England expects that every man will do his duty'.
Last Sunday a service was held in St Mary's Church, and afterwards the Mayor and guests walked to the Unitarian Chapel in Dampiet Street, where there is a plaque in memory of Captain Browne high on the wall.
The chapel was dressed with red, white and blue floral arrangements for the occasion and Bridgwater's Mayor Bill Monteith laid a wreath of laurel leaves and flowers before the plaque.
Photographs of Captain Browne and his wife Ann Pyke with a short history of his seafaring days were placed near by.
Accompanying the Mayor was Captain Browne's great, great niece Eleanor Dixon, who is a retired Unitarian lay pastor and member of the chapel.
Mrs Dixon said: "When you read about the kind of person he was it makes you immensely proud and coming down in the family you can see the same qualities of leadership and service.
"He was indefatigable in what he did for other people and did twice as much as anyone else."
Born in 1784, he was aged 21 at the time of the Battle of Trafalgar and was a Lieutenant assisting Lieutenant Pasco with the signals.
When the fleet was in line of battle, Nelson wished to give one last signal and said it should be 'Nelson expects that every man to do his duty'.
Mrs Dixon said within the family they believe it was their ancestor who suggested the word should be changed to England, which was easier to say in flags.
Captain John Carslake, who was Captain Browne's friend, and also on the Victory, confirmed it was Browne who made the change and not Pasco.
In 1810 Captain Browne returned to Bridgwater and had a farm at Knowle Hill but disaster struck and after selling it he did not get his money.
Undeterred he went on to study law and was called to the Bar in 1824 and went to live in Exeter.
On retiring in 1836 he returned to his home town Bridgwater and was placed on the Commission of the Peace for Somerset and made a magistrate.
Retirement did not suit him and he became manager of the West of England bank until 1855. He died in 1856.
He is buried in Wembdon Road cemetery with several members of his family.
The Browne family were huge benefactors of the town and so the plaque in Captain Browne's memory was placed on the wall in the Unitarian Chapel.
The plaque reads: "During many years of active service Captain Browne obtained the trust and highest commendation of Admiral Lord Nelson, under whose immediate command he distinguished himself at the Battle of Trafalgar." ‘622