Hugh Talbot Burgoyne

Hugh Burgoyne
Captain Hugh Talbot Burgoyne, VC RN
Born	17 July 1833 Dublin, Ireland
Died	7 September 1870 (aged 37) Cape Finisterre
Buried at	Brompton Cemetery
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Navy
Rank	Captain
Commands held	HMS Captain
Battles/wars	Crimean War
Awards	Victoria Cross

Captain Hugh Talbot Burgoyne VC RN (17 July 1833 – 7 September 1870) was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross. Born in Dublin, he was the son of John Fox Burgoyne and the grandson of John Burgoyne.

Burgoyne was a 21-year-old Royal Navy lieutenant, serving in the Crimean War when he performed the deed for which he was awarded the VC.

On 29 May 1855, in the Sea of Azov, Crimea, Lieutenant Burgoyne of HMS Swallow, with Lieutenant Cecil William Buckley from HMS Miranda and Gunner John Robarts from HMS Ardent, volunteered to land at a beach where the Russian army were in strength. They were out of covering gunshot range of the ships offshore and met considerable enemy opposition, but managed to set fire to corn stores and ammunition dumps and destroy enemy equipment before embarking again.

Burgoyne was Commander on HMS Ganges under Captain John Fulford during that vessel's service in the waters of the Colonies of Vancouver Island and British Columbia during the fledgling years of the latter colony's establishment. "When the American merchant ship Northern Eagle was burned in Esquimalt Harbour, Captain Burgoyne was highly commended for his efforts to save everything possible from the burning ship. Seamen from the Ganges, Pylades, Tribune, and Plumper also assisted."