A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Mathews, Edward Morrell
MATHEWS. (Lieutenant, 1840.)
Edward Morrell Mathews died about the close of 1846, on board H.M.S. Iris. He was son of C. Mathews, Esq., of Wargrave, Henley-on-Thames.
This officer entered the Navy 16 Nov. 1828; passed his examination in 1834; and, after much creditable service, was made Lieutenant, 14 Oct. 1840, into the Modeste 18, Capts. Harry Eyres and Rundle Burges Watson, under whom, prior to the return of that ship to England in 1843, he took part, if we mistake not, in all the operations on the coast of China, including the storming of Chinghae.[1] His last appointment was, 19 Oct. 1843, to the Iris 26, Capt. Geo. Rodney Mundy, fitting for the East Indies, where, in July, 1846, on the occasion of an expedition conducted by Sir Thos. John Cochrane agamst the Sultan of Borneo, he took command of the 5th company of small-arm men, and assisted at the capture and destruction of the enemy’s forts and batteries up the river Brune.[2] In the course of the same month we find him, with 136 seamen belonging to the Iris and Royalist under his orders, accompanying Capt. Mundy and a detached force up different branches of the Borneo river, and then penetrating deep into the country, in a fruitless pursuit of the Sultan, supposed to be at a place called Damuan. During nearly the whole period of their march, which lasted several days, the British were under a torrent of rain, and were plunged knee-deep in swamp at every step. The exertions, however, of Lieut. Mathews throughout were such as to obtain him the thanks of Capt. Mundy.[3]