Milne was born in
Musselburgh,
Midlothian,
Scotland, the son of Susan Vernor and David Milne, an
Edinburgh merchant. He entered the
Royal Navy as a
midshipman in 1779. He served in the
West Indies from 1779 to 1783, seeing action in the
Caribbean during the
American War of Independence and in
Lord Howe's final relief of the French and Spanish siege of
Gibraltar in 1782. He served as second-in-command of the
fleet sent to bombard Algiers in 1816. In 1825 he became a Vice-Admiral. In 1842, he was appointed
Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth. He died at sea 5 May 1845 while returning to Scotland from
Plymouth, after more than 60 years' service in the Royal Navy. He is buried with his first wife in the churchyard at
Inveresk. Memorial reads. In memory of Admiral Sir DAVID MILNE, G.C.B., &c., &c., &c. For 60 years he served his country in the Royal Navy ; his gallant deeds are recorded in her annals. In all the relations of private life he was upright, exemplary, and esteemed. He expired at sea on the 5th of May 1845, aged 82 years, whilst returning to his native home from Devonport, at which station he had been for the three previous years Commander-in-Chief. Here are deposited the remains of GRACE, wife of Rear-Admiral David Milne, who died at Bordeaux, in France, the 4th of October 1814, where she had gone for the recovery of her health. Her remains were brought to this country by her affectionate husband, and re-interred here the 18th of February 1815. She was eldest daughter of Sir Alexander Purves of Purves, Bart., by Mary Home, daughter of Sir James Home of Coldinghame, Bart., in the County of Berwick. Also a son, named THOMAS, who died in infancy. ==Family==