A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Chapman, Charles Matthew
CHAPMAN. (Lieut., 1814. f-p., 27; h-p., 14.)
Charles Matthew Chapman entered the Navy, 26 June, 1806, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Alcmene 38, Capt. Jas. Brisbane, with whom he continued to serve, in the same ship, the Belle-Poule 38, and Pembroke 74, on the Home and Mediterranean stations, as Midshipman and Master’s Mate, until Aug. 1813. During that period he aided, besides contributing to the capture of many smaller armed vessels, at the taking, by the Belle Poule, of Le Var, of 26 guns, laden with corn for the relief of the French garrison at Corfu, 15 Feb. 1809; was also present, in 1809-10, at the reduction of the islands of Zante, Cephalonia, and Sta. Maura; and witnessed the destruction, 5 May, 1811, in spite of a fierce opposition from the enemy, of a French 18-gun brig, lying moored in the harbour of Parenza.[1] On leaving the Pembroke, Mr. Chapman proceeded to Rio de Janeiro in the Akbar 50, Capt. Sir Archibald Collingwood Dickson. He then joined the Indefatigable 44, Capt. John Fyffe; and, on his return to England as Acting-Lieutenant of the Aquilon 32, Capt. Jas. Boxer, was confirmed, 19 July, 1814, into the Leven 24, Capt. Buckland Stirling Black, engaged, during the war of 100, days, in co-operating with the French Royalists in La Vendée. After nearly two years on half-pay he was for a short time appointed, 4 Oct. 1819, to the Redpole 10, Capt. Wm. Devereux Evance, lying at Portsmouth; subsequently to which we find him employed, from 26 April, 1824, until 1826, on the Coast Blockade, as Supernumerary-Lieutenant of the Ramillies 74, Capts. Wm. M‘Culloch and Hugh Pigot, – next, until 29 Dec. 1831, as Agent for Transports Afloat – from 14 Aug. 1832, until 30 Jan. 1837, in command of the Semaphore at Haste Hill – and, from 3 Feb. 1837, until superseded- at his own request, 15 Dec. 1841, again in the Transport Service. He has since been on half-pay.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1811, p. 1547.