Milne , Sir , David , 1763-1845 , Knight , Admiral

Milne entered the Navy in 1779 and served in the Canada until the end of the American War in the Channel and the West Indies. During the peace he was employed in merchant ships, among them the East Indiaman, General Eliott, 1788 to 1790. At the out-break of war, 1793, he went in the Boyne to the West Indies and subsequently joined the BLANCHE, in which ship he earned promotion to lieutenant for capturing La Pique in 1794. He became commander and captain in 1795 and was appointed to the command of LA PIQUE in 1796. After two years service in the West Indies and the Channel, Milne, whilst taking La Seine, lost LA PIQUE in action off Brittany and returned to the West Indies in LA SEINE. On renewal of the war in 1803, he was Commander-in-Chief at Leith until 1808, after which he had a period ashore in command of the SEA FENCIBLES. He was then appointed to the Channel Fleet in the IMPETUEUX, 1811 to 1812, and to the VENERABLE, 1812 to 1813. From 1813 to 1814, when he became a rear-admiral, he was in North America in the Bulwark. Milne was Commander-in-Chief of the Halifax Station, 1816 to 1819, but before he departed, served as second-in-command to Lord Exmouth (q.v.) at the battle of Algiers, 1816. He was made a vice-admiral in 1825 and an admiral in 1841. His only further service was as Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth, 1842 to 1845, and he died during his journey home to Scotland.