Burke was born in Limerick, Ireland.[1][2] He was a relation of the politician Edmund Burke.[3] He joined the navy, due to having a family member already enlisted.
He had at least three sons in the navy. One son, Henry Burke, rose to the rank of commander (from Lieutenant of the Renown) on 4 October 1800,[4] and captained the 16-gun brig-sloopHMS Seagull from June 1802. In August 1803, he re-took the (East Indiaman) Lord Nelson, which had been captured by the privateer Bellone several days previously.[5] Captain Henry Burke, and a younger brother, were lost with the rest of Seagull's complement when she disappeared at sea in the English Channel in February 1805.[6] Another son, Walter Burke, rose to the rank of lieutenant. He was mortally wounded during the boarding the French ship Chevrette in July 1801, and died in hospital.[1]
At Trafalgaredit
Walter Burke is visible immediately to the right of Nelson, supporting his pillow. He is shown half-length to left wearing a brown coat and red waistcoat.
Burke was the oldest serving officer aboard Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar, also at the age of 60, he was the oldest purser in the Royal Navy.[7]
The artist Arthur William Devis depicted Burke in his 1807 painting, The Death of Nelson, 21 October 1805. The picture shows many of the officers present at the moment of Nelson's death. Portrayed are Revd. Dr Alexander Scott, Nelson's chaplain, rubbing his chest to help relieve the pain. Nelson's steward, William Chevailler, looks towards Dr William Beatty, Victory's surgeon, who feels Nelson's pulse and is about to pronounce him dead. Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy stands to the right of the painting - though Hardy was not actually present at the moment of death. Midshipman Edward Collingwood and Lieutenant John Yule (rear left and left), gesture towards a pile of captured enemy flags being brought in by a seaman. Gaetano Spedillo, Nelson's Italian valet, stands in right profile in front of Collingwood, holding a glass from which Nelson took his last sips of water. Victory's carpenter, Mr Bunce, stands on the far right of the painting above Lieutenant George Miller Bligh, the dazed and wounded figure seated far right. Seated to the right of Bligh is Assistant Surgeon Neil Smith.[8] Burke is shown kneeling to the right of Nelson, visible under Hardy's arm, partly obscured by Spedillo. He is supporting Nelson by propping up his pillow.
Lord Nelson was quoted
"It is nonsense, Mr. Burke, to suppose I can live. My sufferings are great but they will soon be over."[9]
Later lifeedit
Burke survived the battle and lived 10 years more before dying at the age of 79 in 1815. He had retired from the navy to live at Wouldham, where he owned both 'Purser Place' and 'Burke House'.[10] Both were dismantled, and their materials moved to Maresfield in East Sussex, where a new house called 'Purser Place' was built in 1937.[11]
Two large shell cases which stood at his gate of Burke House are claimed to be relics of HMS Victory. They were moved to beneath the west window of Wouldham All Saints Church.[12]
Sacred to the Memory of Walter Burke, Esq, of this Parish, who died on the 12th September 1815 in the 70th year of his age. He was Purser on His Majesty's Ship Victory in the glorious Battle of Trafalgar, and in his arms the immortal Nelson died.[12]
Memorialsedit
Two roads in the Medway area have been named after him.
^"Gazette Issue 15619 published on the 10 September 1803. Page 6 of 20". london-gazette.co.uk. Retrieved 18 September 2013.
^"Seagull, 1795". pbenyon.plus.com. Retrieved 18 September 2013.
^Cook, Peter (21 October 2019). "County's strong links to famous battle". Kent Online. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
^Ayshford, Derek. "Death of Lord Nelson, Trafalgar Octr 21 1805". collections.rmg.co.uk. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
^"The Trafalgar Roll" (PDF). London: nelson-society.com. 21 April 2008. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
^"Wouldham, the house of Walter Burke". www.victoriacountyhistory.ac.uk. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
^"All about Wouldham". www.wouldham.com. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
^ ab"All about Wouldham". www.kenthistoryforum.co.uk. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
January 01, 1970
walter, burke, purser, walter, burke, 1736, september, 1815, purser, royal, navy, best, known, serving, aboard, victory, battle, trafalgar, october, 1805, present, death, lord, nelson, cockpit, victory, walter, burkeborn1736limerickdied12, september, 1815would. Walter Burke 1736 12 September 1815 was a purser in the Royal Navy He is best known for serving aboard HMS Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar on 21 October 1805 and was present at the death of Lord Nelson in the cockpit of the Victory Walter BurkeBorn1736LimerickDied12 September 1815Wouldham Contents 1 Family and early life 2 At Trafalgar 3 Later life 4 Memorials 5 ReferencesFamily and early life editBurke was born in Limerick Ireland 1 2 He was a relation of the politician Edmund Burke 3 He joined the navy due to having a family member already enlisted He had at least three sons in the navy One son Henry Burke rose to the rank of commander from Lieutenant of the Renown on 4 October 1800 4 and captained the 16 gun brig sloop HMS Seagull from June 1802 In August 1803 he re took the East Indiaman Lord Nelson which had been captured by the privateer Bellone several days previously 5 Captain Henry Burke and a younger brother were lost with the rest of Seagull s complement when she disappeared at sea in the English Channel in February 1805 6 Another son Walter Burke rose to the rank of lieutenant He was mortally wounded during the boarding the French ship Chevrette in July 1801 and died in hospital 1 At Trafalgar edit nbsp Walter Burke is visible immediately to the right of Nelson supporting his pillow He is shown half length to left wearing a brown coat and red waistcoat Burke was the oldest serving officer aboard Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar also at the age of 60 he was the oldest purser in the Royal Navy 7 The artist Arthur William Devis depicted Burke in his 1807 painting The Death of Nelson 21 October 1805 The picture shows many of the officers present at the moment of Nelson s death Portrayed are Revd Dr Alexander Scott Nelson s chaplain rubbing his chest to help relieve the pain Nelson s steward William Chevailler looks towards Dr William Beatty Victory s surgeon who feels Nelson s pulse and is about to pronounce him dead Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy stands to the right of the painting though Hardy was not actually present at the moment of death Midshipman Edward Collingwood and Lieutenant John Yule rear left and left gesture towards a pile of captured enemy flags being brought in by a seaman Gaetano Spedillo Nelson s Italian valet stands in right profile in front of Collingwood holding a glass from which Nelson took his last sips of water Victory s carpenter Mr Bunce stands on the far right of the painting above Lieutenant George Miller Bligh the dazed and wounded figure seated far right Seated to the right of Bligh is Assistant Surgeon Neil Smith 8 Burke is shown kneeling to the right of Nelson visible under Hardy s arm partly obscured by Spedillo He is supporting Nelson by propping up his pillow Lord Nelson was quoted It is nonsense Mr Burke to suppose I can live My sufferings are great but they will soon be over 9 Later life editBurke survived the battle and lived 10 years more before dying at the age of 79 in 1815 He had retired from the navy to live at Wouldham where he owned both Purser Place and Burke House 10 Both were dismantled and their materials moved to Maresfield in East Sussex where a new house called Purser Place was built in 1937 11 Two large shell cases which stood at his gate of Burke House are claimed to be relics of HMS Victory They were moved to beneath the west window of Wouldham All Saints Church 12 His headstone in Wouldham Church reads Sacred to the Memory of Walter Burke Esq of this Parish who died on the 12th September 1815 in the 70th year of his age He was Purser on His Majesty s Ship Victory in the glorious Battle of Trafalgar and in his arms the immortal Nelson died 12 Memorials editTwo roads in the Medway area have been named after him Walter Burke Avenue in Wouldham Walter Burke Way in Chatham KentReferences edit a b From the Gentleman s Magazine 1816 www ageofnelson org 1816 Retrieved 9 March 2013 Limerick Men Navy Pursers People amp Genealogy Document Gallery medway gov uk Retrieved 9 March 2013 The London Chronicle Volume 87 p 337 Gazette Issue 15619 published on the 10 September 1803 Page 6 of 20 london gazette co uk Retrieved 18 September 2013 Seagull 1795 pbenyon plus com Retrieved 18 September 2013 Cook Peter 21 October 2019 County s strong links to famous battle Kent Online Retrieved 15 September 2020 Ayshford Derek Death of Lord Nelson Trafalgar Octr 21 1805 collections rmg co uk Retrieved 9 March 2013 The Trafalgar Roll PDF London nelson society com 21 April 2008 Retrieved 23 March 2014 Wouldham the house of Walter Burke www victoriacountyhistory ac uk Retrieved 9 March 2013 All about Wouldham www wouldham com Retrieved 9 March 2013 a b All about Wouldham www kenthistoryforum co uk Retrieved 9 March 2013 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Walter Burke purser amp oldid 1190476532, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
