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Revision as of 12:34, 2 March 2005 by 194.66.0.148 (talk)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Sir Edward Berry (1768 - 13 February 1831), Rear Admiral
Edward Berry was an officer of the British Royal Navy primarily known for his role as flag captain of Real Admiral Horatio Nelson's ship HMS Vanguard at the Battle of the Nile, which led to his knighthood in 1798. He had a long naval career and also commanded HMS Agamemnon at the Battle of Trafalgar.
Berry was born in 1768, the son of a London merchant who died at an early age leaving a widow, 5 daughters and 2 sons in perilous financial circumstances. His early education was looked after by his uncle, the Rev. Titus Berry, in Norwich. It was through one of Titus Berry's former pupils Lord Mulgrave, that in 1779 Berry entered the Navy as a volunteer aboard the Burford, at the age of 11.
As a reward for his gallantry in boarding a French ship, Berry was promoted to Lieutenant on 20 January 1794 and in May 1796 was appointed to the Agamemnon with Captain Nelson, whom he followed upon his move to the Captain in June. He was soon to win the Captain's esteem, and in a letter to Admiral Sir John Jervis, Nelson wrote, 'I have as far as I have seen every reason to be satisfied with him , both as a gentleman and an officer'. On sending Nelson's report to the Admiralty, Jervis added 'Lieutenant Edward Berry, of whom the Commodore writes so highly, is a protégé of mine and I know him to be an officer of talents, great courage and laudable ambition'.