Sir Edward Buller, 1st Baronet

Sir Edward Buller, 1st Baronet (24 December 1764 – 15 April 1824) was an officer of the

Buller was then appointed to command the 16-gun sloop HMS Brisk and sent to North America to combat smuggling operations there.^[4][6] He also used his time to make detailed surveys of the harbours and anchorages along the coast. In April 1789 news reached Buller that a large merchant vessel had been wrecked on the Isle of Sable, and that a number of the crew had survived, but were now stranded on the island at risk of starvation.^[4] Buller requested and was given permission to attempt a rescue mission, and despite the risk involved, anchored the Brisk off the shore and for three days attempted a landing, hampered by the sandbanks and shoals.^[7] Despite firing signal guns, no sign of any shipwrecked men could be found and after realising that the initial reports were probably groundless, Buller returned to Halifax.^[7]

Promotion to post-captain came on 19 July 1790, with an appointment to command the 28-gun HMS Dido.^[2][7] Buller returned to Britain and paid her off at the end of the year, and was given command of the 24-gun HMS Porcupine in 1792.^[8] He served in the English Channel, before being transferred to take command of the 44-gun HMS Adventure.^[9] While escorting a convoy of 13 Dutch merchants from Nova Scotia to Britain he was intercepted by a French squadron, and narrowly escaped. The merchants were released from his protection after being escorted past the danger, but were then promptly rounded up by British cruisers following the embargo placed on Dutch property.^[7] Buller was appointed to command HMS Crescent in 1795 and joined Captain William Essington's HMS Sceptre in escorting the India fleet to the Cape of Good Hope.^[7] During the voyage a Spanish squadron was spotted, consisting of a ship of the line and two frigates. Initially mistaking them for French ships Buller and Essington bore up to attack them, but broke off when the Spanish raised Spanish ensigns.^[7] The British captains were unaware that Spain had allied with France and was now at war with Britain, a fact known to their Spanish counterparts, and so unknowingly passed up the opportunity to attack the Spanish ships, which were heavily laden with specie from the Caribbean.^[7]

Arriving with the convoy at the Cape of Good Hope, Buller spent some time on the station and was present with Lord Keith's fleet when the Dutch squadron surrendered at Saldanha Bay.^[10] He was then compelled to return home to attend to personal matters, and transferred into the 64-gun HMS America for the voyage home.^[10][11] Unable to take up a sea-going command due to his personal affairs, Buller accepted command of the Sea Fencibles based from the Lyme to Cawsand Bay.^[2][10]

Buller returned to sea in 1799, taking command of the 74-gun HMS Edgar in the English Channel.^[12] He transferred to the 74-gun HMS Achille in April 1801, and took part in the blockade of the French ports of Brest and Rochefort.^[10][13]

Buller went ashore during the

Buller remained with Malta into 1806, and in August was placed with Sir Thomas Louis' squadron to escort troops for a secret expedition.^[16] Before the force sailed news reached them that a French fleet had put to sea under Jérôme Bonaparte. Louis ordered the troops to be disembarked, and immediately set of in pursuit.^[16] Since Louis' assigned flagship, HMS Canopus was not yet ready to take his flag, Buller offered the Malta as a replacement, and Louis accepted.^[16] The British force was unable to bring Bonaparte's fleet to battle before they escaped back into Lorient, but on 27 September they encountered the 44-gun French frigate Président, returning from the Caribbean where she had cruised with L'Hermite's expedition.^[16] Président was chased down by the British squadron and forced to strike her colours.^[16] During the cruise Malta sprang her mainmast and was sent back to Britain by Louis to effect repairs.^[16]

The Malta, with Buller still in command, went to sea again in early January 1807 with orders to join Lord Collingwood's fleet in the Mediterranean.^[16] Collingwood placed Buller in command of the inshore squadron, where he continued to distinguish himself. In one particular instance he destroyed the beached transport Mary, which had run aground carrying stores for 25,000 troops, and which Buller burnt to prevent them falling into enemy hands.^[17] On another occasion while Malta was refitting at Gibraltar, Buller learnt that a Portuguese frigate had been wrecked on the Spanish coast. Buller at once went out and attempted to save the crew, working for several hours in pounding surf and twice being swept away, but refusing to leave until there were no more men to be saved.^[17] Perhaps because of these exertions, Buller became seriously ill with a fever, but recovered to resume his station.^[17] His health had been weakened however, and he applied to be superseded, returning to Britain later in 1807.^[17]

Buller was promoted to rear-admiral on 28 April 1808, and was created a

Buller received no further active employment after this.[19] He continued to hold the seat of East Looe until 1820, and in 1807 succeeded his brother, John Buller as recorder for the borough.^[1][19] Sir Edward Buller died at his seat of Trenant Park on 15 April 1824 at the age of 59.^[1][22] The baronetcy became extinct upon his death.^[22]

On 15 May 1790, in Halifax,^[1] Edward Buller married Gertrude Van Cortlandt^[1] (1772–1849), eldest daughter and heir of Loyalist Philippus Van Cortlandt, a descendant of Stephanus Van Cortlandt, the Schuyler family and the de Peyster family. They had one son, John St. Aubyn Buller, who died in infancy; and one daughter, Anna Maria Buller, who married James Drummond Elphinstone.^[1][19] James and Anna Maria's son became William Buller Fullerton Elphinstone, 15th Lord Elphinstone.^[19]

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Sir Edward Buller

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by James Buller Frederick William Buller	Member of Parliament for East Looe 1802–1820 With: John Buller 1802–1807 David Vanderheyden 1807–1816 Thomas Potter Macqueen 1816–1820	Succeeded by George Watson-Taylor Thomas Potter Macqueen
Baronetage of the United Kingdom
New creation	Baronet (of Trenant Park, Cornwall) 1808–1824	Extinct
Preceded by Campbell baronets	Buller baronets of Trenant Park 3 October 1808	Succeeded by Montgomery baronets