Herbert Browell

Died 1796. He was the son of William Browell, a midshipman who had served under Admiral of the Fleet Lord George Anson. His brother was Captain William Browell.

Carisbrooke Castle, where Browell apparently performed an amazing feat!

Browell was commissioned lieutenant on 8 October 1779, and in April 1783 he was briefly aboard the Plymouth guardship Vengeance 74, Captain Rowland Cotton.

He was promoted commander on 22 July 1788 and had the sloop Weazle 10 at Nova Scotia before bringing her home in 1789. On 22 November 1790 he was posted captain of the Greyhound 32 for purposes of rank only, being one of many officers advanced at that time.

During the embarkation of Major-General Lord Moira’s army from Ostend in 1794, Browell served as the agent for transports, and he superintended the evacuation.

In September 1795 he was appointed to the Theseus 74, sailing at the end of the month from Spithead to join Rear-Admiral Henry Harvey’s squadron off France in support of the Royalist uprising. On 9 October she was driven into Quiberon Bay by a gale, having already endured several days of rough weather and thunderstorms. She arrived back at Spithead with this force on 2 January 1796, and later that month was sent out with sealed orders. Continuing with the Channel Fleet, she re-returned to Portsmouth in March 1796 and again at the end of April.

In May 1796 Browell was appointed to the Brunswick 74, serving with the Channel Fleet and flying the flag of Rear-Admiral Richard Rodney Bligh. Continuing as the flag-captain to this officer, he sailed from Spithead with Vice-Admiral Sir Hyde Parker’s grand convoy for the West Indies in August.

Captain Browell died in the West Indies of yellow fever in the latter part of 1796 whilst still commanding the Brunswick.

Legend had it that he once leapt over the well at Carisbrook Castle on the Isle of Wight m the entertainment of some ladies, a feat that was allegedly beyond the capabilities of any kangaroo.