Byron Drury

Admiral Byron Drury (1815–1888) was a British naval officer. Biography Drury was born in Harrow on the Hill, the son of Rev. Henry Drury, of Harrow School; at which place he, and his father, Dr. Drury, were masters for about 70 years. Byron Drury entered the Royal Naval College in 1828; and embarked, 13 August 1830, as a Volunteer, on board HMS Aetna surveying vessel, under the command of Captain Edward Belcher. He afterwards served for upwards of three years, latterly as a midshipman, in HMS Rainbow, under Captain Sir John Franklin, on the Mediterranean station; and, joining next HMS Racehorse under Captain Sir James Everard Home, took an active part, as mate, in the siege of Pará in Brazil in 1835, where he was for several days in action with the enemy’s batteries. Landing at night he conducted over 200 Brazilians to the beach for embarkation from the midst of the insurgents. He was also involved in surveying the Pará River. Drury was with Sir Gordon Bremer, in HMS Alligator, he subsequently assisted in surveying the harbour at Port Essington, in South Australia, during the formation of that place into a settlement.