BURRARD, Harry (1755-1813), of Calshot Castle, I.o.W.

Burrard resumed his seat on the family interest in 1790. He had made no mark in the House when in April following, after being listed hostile to the repeal of the Test Act in Scotland, and after taking leave of absence from an election committee to attend his deathbed, he succeeded his uncle Sir Harry Burrard, 1st Bt., of Walhampton as riding forester of the New Forest. He did not seek re-election.CJ, xlvi. 403; S. Burrard. Annals of Walhampton, 120. In 1802 he was again returned as a stopgap, again without drawing attention to himself. His military career took him to Flanders and Holland in the 1790s and to Copenhagen, second in command, in 1807. He was rewarded with a baronetcy and the thanks of the House, 28 Jan. 1808. He was sent to Portugal in the following summer to supersede Sir Arthur Wellesley. He did so only long enough to forbid the pursuit of the retreating French from Vimeiro and to concur in Sir Hew Dalrymple’s signature to the convention of Cintra. All three were recalled and an inquiry took place in November. Burrard was absolved: he was supposed to enjoy the King’s protection. Whitbread’s proposal in January 1809 to include him in the vote of thanks to Wellesley was ruled out.DNB ; Grey mss, Tierney to Grey, 7, 15 Dec. 1808; Buckingham, Court and Cabinets, iv. 303; HMC Fortescue, ix. 230, 240, 242, 244, 245, 371; Parl. Deb. xii. 153. He died 18 Oct. 1813.