Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 06.djvu/278

 Brenton Sir George Ommanney Willes. The brig was captured, but, the Spartan's rigging being much cut, the Cérès and Fama succeeded in getting under some batteries in Baia Bay (, Naval History, edit. 1859, v. 115). For his gallant and skilful conduct of the action Willes was deservedly promoted; and Captain Brenton's bravery, his tactical skill, and the severity of his wound won for him sympathy and admiration which forgot to remark on his mistaken judgment in sending the Success away mistaken, for the resolve of the enemy to come out was formed quite independently of the Success's absence. The Patriotic Fund at Lloyd's voted him a sword, value one hundred guineas; the king of the Two Sicilies presented him with the Grand Cross of St. Ferdinand; he was made a baronet on 3 Nov. 1812, and a K.C.B. on 2 Jan. 1815.

Brenton's wound made it necessary for him to return to England, which he was permitted to do in the Spartan; and for nearly two years he was on shore, suffering much pain, aggravated by the loss of all his property by the failure of his agents, and by the loss of a prize appeal which involved him to the extent of 3,000l. This liability, however, some friends took on themselves, trusting to have it made good from the bankrupt's estate; and a pension of 300l. in consideration of his wound relieved him of this pressing pecuniary anxiety. In March 1812, having partly recovered from his wound, he accepted the command of the Stirling Castle, 74 guns, in the Channel; but feeling that his lameness and the occasional pain incapacitated him for active service, he soon resigned the appointment. Towards the close of 1813 he was appointed commissioner of the dockyard at Port Mahon, and on the abolition of that establishment at the peace he was sent to the Cape of Good Hope in the same capacity. The establishment there was also reduced on the death of Napoleon in 1821, and Brenton returned to England in January 1822. He then for some time had the command of the royal yacht, and afterwards of the guardship at Sheerness. He attained his flag in 1830, and in 1831, on the death of Captain Browell, was appointed lieutenant-governor of Greenwich Hospital. In course of seniority he would have been included in the promotion on the queen's coronation, and have been made a vice-admiral; but that being incompatible with his office at Greenwich, the rank was held in abeyance, though given him, with his original seniority, on his retirement in 1840. His health had during all these years been very broken, and he died on 3 April 1844.

During a great part of his life he devoted much time and energy to business connected with religious or charitable organisations, and in assisting his brother [see ], of whom he wrote a memoir referring chiefly to these pursuits. He was also the author of 'The Hope of the Navy, or the True Source of Discipline and Efficiency' (cr. 8vo, 1839), a religious essay; 'An Appeal to the British Nation on behalf of her Sailors' (12mo, 1838); and some pamphlets. He was twice married: his first wife died in 1817, and in 1822 he married a cousin, Miss Harriet Brenton, who survived him. He left only one son, Lancelot Charles Lee Brenton, who, after taking his degree at Oxford, became a nonconformist minister; on his death, without issue, the baronetcy became extinct.

 BRERELEY, JOHN. [See .]

 BRERELEY or BRIERLEY, ROGER (1586–1637), divine and poet, was born on 4 Aug. 1586, at Marland, then a hamlet in the parish of Rochdale, where Thomas Brereley, his father, and Roger, his grandfather, were farmers. The name is spelled in many ways, but it seems best to adhere to the form which constantly recurs in the Rochdale baptismal register, as this undoubtedly represents the right pronunciation. From his father's brother Richard the Brearleys of Handworth, Yorkshire, are descended. He had three brothers and two sisters younger than himself. Brereley himself began life as a puritan. He took orders and became perpetual curate of Grindleton Chapel, in the parish of Mitton in Craven. The stipend (in 1654) was worth 51. He held (in 1626) a close in Castleton, in the manor of Rochdale, which had belonged to his grandfather. His preaching was simple and spiritual, and his followers soon became distinguished as a party. As early as 1618 Nicholas Assheton, recording the burial of one John Swinglehurst, adds 'he died distract; he was a great follower of Brierley.' J. C., the writer of the first notice of his life, says: 'Because they could not well stile them by the name of Breirlists, finding no fault in his doctrine, they then