ROBERTSON. (Lieut., 1811. f-p., 13; h-p., 34.)
Bowen Robert Robertson, born 21 May, 1791, is son of the late Robt. Robertson, Esq., of Milford, by Laetitia, daughter of Geo. Webb, Esq., Hackard, co. Pembroke, who married Anne, daughter of the Rev. Jas. Bowen, Rector of Langum; and is first-cousin of the present Chas. Wheeler Townsend Webb Bowen, of Camrose House, co. Pembroke. His elder and only brother, George, was an officer in the Army.
This officer entered the Navy, 16 Sept. 1800, as L.M., on board the Aimwell, Lieut.-Commander Skinner, in which vessel and in the Chapman armed ship, Capt. Thos. Browne, he continued employed on the Milford station until Nov. 1801. From March to Nov. 1802, and from May, 1803, to Aug. 1804, he served, the latter part of the time in the capacity of Midshipman, in the Insolent 12, Lieut.-Commander Nicholas Kortwright, and Spitfire 18, Capt. Robt. Keen. On 13 Nov. 1805, while proceeding in the Woodlark 10, Lieut.-Commander Robt. Innes, to join the Eagle 74, Capt. Chas. Rowley (under whom he had been serving for about 14 months in the Ruby 64, off Cadiz and in the Channel and North Sea), he was wrecked, and taken prisoner, near Calais. During his consequent sojourn in France he made several attempts to escape. On one occasion he had actually reached the coast, when he was apprehended, carried back several hundred miles in chains, and confined on bread and water. At length, however, after he had been incarcerated in as many as 80 prisons, and had undergone the greatest hardships, he succeeded, 16 March, 1811, in accomplishing his flight. He crossed the North Sea in an open boat, and on his arrival in England was ordered out to the Baltic in the Dreadnought 98, Capt. Sam. Hood Linzee, of which ship he beame an acting and a confirmed Lieutenant 1 June and 6 July in the same year, 1811. The Dreadnought being paid off in Feb. 1812, he was next, from 2 Feb. 1813 until she was put out of commission 26 Aug. 1815, employed in the West Indies, South America, and Channel, on board the Rhin 38, Capt. Chas. Malcolm. While in that ship he frequently landed papers on the coast of France, assisted at the capture of many of the enemy’s vessels, and for his boat and general services was strongly recommended for promotion. Since he left her, although anxious for employment, he has been suffered to remain on half-pay.
The Lieutenant is a Magistrate for co. Pembroke. He married, in 1819, Caroline Amelia, youngest daughter of the late John Lloyd, Esq., of Foes-y-bleiddiad, Mabws, and Dale Castle, co. Pembroke, High Sheriff for Pembrokeshire in 1785 and for Cardiganshire in 1803, and sister-in-law of Sir Geo. Cooper, Chief-Justice at Madras. Agents – Messrs. Chard.
ROBERTSON. (Commander, 1845.)
David Robertson entered the Navy 6 April, 1831; passed his examination 5 Dec. 1837; and was promoted (while serving in the Mediterranean as Mate of the Howe 120, Capt. Sir Watkin Owen Pell) to the rank of Lieutenant 26 Aug. 1841. Being appointed, 1 Oct. following. Senior of the Hazard 18, Capt. Chas. Bell, he sailed in that sloop for the East Indies, and on the death of his Captain was nominated, 8 Aug. 1844, to the acting command of her. He was confirmed in his present rank 11 March, 1845, and has since been on half-pay. Agents – Messrs. Chard.
ROBERTSON. (Lieutenant, 1815. f-p., 13; h-p., 31.)
James Robertson was born 7 Feb. 1780.
This officer entered the Navy, 1 May, 1803, as A.B., on board the Lapwing 28, Capt. Alex. Skene, on the Halifax station, where he continued employed, principally in the capacity of Master’s Mate, in the Leander 50, Capts. Skene and John Talbot, Cleopatra 32, Capts. John Nairne, John Wright, and Wm. Love, Driver 18, Capts. W. Love and Chas. Claridge, Bermuda 18, Capt. Wm. Henry Byam, and Atalante 18, Capt. Fred. Hickey, until Dec. 1809. He then served for nearly six years in the Mediterranean in the Undaunted 38, Capts. Thos. Jas. Maling, Geo. Chas. Mackenzie, Rich. Thomas, and Rowland Mainwaring, Euryalus 36, Capts. R. Mainwaring, Jeremiah Coghlan, and Chas. Napier, and Kite and Paulina sloops, both commanded by Capt. Mainwaring. He acted as Lieutenant in the Undaunted and Kite; and on leaving, in Nov. 1815, the Paulina (in which vessel he had been officiating as Acting-Master) was presented with a commission bearing date 17 of the preceding March. He has since been on half-pay.
Lieut. Robertson married, 23 Jan. 1817, Miss Ann Spence, a lady by whom he has issue five children.
ROBERTSON. (Lieutenant, 1806. f-p., 18;[1] h-p., 34.)
James Balfour Robertson is third son of the late Arthur Robertson, Esq., of Inshes, co. Inverness (a descendant of David I., King of Scotland), by Katherine, daughter of Jas. Lawrie, Esq., of Burngrange and Lappie, co. Kinross, and niece of Colonel Jas. Masterton, M.P. for Stirling, A.D.C. to the Duke of Cumberland at Culloden, fifth in descent from the marriage of Ronald Masterton, of Park Mill, heir male of Masterton of that ilk, with Marjory Bruce, grand-daughter of Sir David Bruce, of Clackmannan, derived from the Bruces of Annandale, the progenitors of the illustrious Robt. Bruce. One of his brothers, Simon Fraser, an officer in the E.I.Co.’s service, died Deputy-Adjutant-General of Bombay; and another, Thomas, filling the same appointment, was drowned in the Lady Jane Dundas East Indiaman.
This officer entered the Navy, 9 April, 1795, as A.B., on board the Gibraltar 80, Capts. John Pakenham and Wm. Hancock Kelly, in which ship he continued, on the Mediterranean and Channel stations, nearly the whole time in the capacity of Midshipman, until Aug. 1801. From 11 Sept. ensuing until 12 Aug. 1802 he served, again in the Mediterranean, chiefly as Master’s Mate, in the Dreadnought 98, Capt. Jas. Vashon, and Caesar 80, flag-ship of Sir Jas. Saumarez. He was made Lieutenant, 18 Jan. 1806, into the Combatant sloop, Capts. Alex. Robt. Kerr and Alex. Rich. Mackenzie, lying in the Downs; and between the following Nov. and July, 1814, was employed on the Mediterranean, Baltic, and Home stations in the Formidable 98, Capt. Fras. Fayerman, Alexandria 32, Capt. Nathaniel Day Cochrane, Caledonia 120, flag-ship of Rear-Admiral Fras. Pickmore, Redpole 10, Capt. Colin Macdonald, Rifleman brig, Capt. Joseph Pearce, Cydnus 38, Capt. Fred. Langford, and Rinaldo 10, Capt. Edm. Lyons. From 19 March, 1822, until 14 April, 1826, he commanded a Signal station on Cooper’s Hill. For several years past he has been employed on quarantine service at St. Margaret’s Hope, Frith of Forth.
He is married and has issue. Agents – Hallett and Robinson.
ROBERTSON. (Lieutenant, 1831.)
James Hector M‘Kenzie Robertson entered the Navy 11 June, 1823; passed his examination in 1829; and obtained his commission 5 Dec. 1831. From 23 Jan. 1835 until 1844 he held an appointment in the Coast Guard. He is now unemployed. Agent – J. Hinxman.
ROBERTSON. (Capt., 1838. f-p., 18; h-p., 32.)
John Robertson entered the Navy, 5 Oct. 1797, as Midshipman, on board the Standard 64, Capt. Thos. Revell Shivers, attached to the force in the North Sea; and from April, 1798, until Aug. 1803 was employed, chiefly on the Home station, in the Superb 74, Capt. John Sutton, Ville de Paris 110 flag-ship of Hon. Wm. Cornwallis, Immortalité 36, Capts. Hon. Henry Hotham and Edw. W. C. R. Owen, and Mars 74, Capt. J. Sutton. As Master’s
- ↑ Exclusive of quarantine service.
