Sir Robt. Calder, and off Cadiz under Admiral Collingwood; and after the battle of Trafalgar – at which (owing to his having been sent a few days before to Gibraltar with a squadron under Rear-Admiral Louis for provisions) he had not the good fortune to be present – he was of material use in rendering assistance to the disabled ships in the British fleet, and in endeavouring to secure the prizes. Returning with Sir John Duckworth to the West Indies, Capt. Stopford was afforded an opportunity of sharing in the laurels won in the action off St. Domingo 6 Feb. 1806; on which occasion he distinguished himself greatly by compelling the Alexandre of 80 guns, and another ship, to strike their colours. After the battle Capt. Stopford, who had been wounded, proceeded with the prizes first to Jamaica[1] and then to England. In Nov. 1806, with a squadron under his orders, consisting of three sail-of-the-line, a frigate, a brig, and a cutter, having on board 5000 troops under Brigadier-General Crawford, destined for the Rio de la Plata, he sailed from Falmouth for Porto Praya, there to await the arrival from England of Rear-Admiral Geo. Murray, who was to command the expedition. After remaining for a month at that place without any appearance of the Rear-Admiral, he was induced, conceiving that some disaster had happened, to proceed with the Theseus 74 and the troops to the Cape of Good Hope, where, to his surprise, he found him, and accordingly yielded up his charge. On his return home he joined, in July, 1807, the fleet under Admiral Gambier intended to act against Copenhagen; and he therefore accompanied that officer to the Baltic, on which station, it appears, he was very actively employed. He had been previously, 9 Nov. 1805, nominated a Colonel of Marines. Attaining the rank of Rear-Admiral 28 April, 1808, he was directed immediately to hoist his flag on board the Spencer, and was sent to blockade the ports of Ferrol and Rochefort. He shifted his flag subsequently to the Caesar 80, and assumed command of a squadron on the coast of France, consisting of three sail-of-the-line and two frigates in Basque Roads, and three others off L’Orient. On the night of 23 Feb. 1809, while at anchor outside Basque Roads, the signal for an enemy’s fleet being made by one of the look-out frigates, Rear-Admiral Stopford, at the time with only three line-of-battle ships, instantly got under sail, but, perceiving at daylight that the chase consisted of 10 sail-of-the-line, he gave over the pursuit, and the latter anchored off the Ile d’Aix. In the course of the same day, Feb. 24, having been joined by the Amelia 38, he made an attack upon the three 40-gun frigates Italienne, Calypso and Cybèle, which had run for protection under the powerful batteries of Sable d’Olonne. These, in spite of a heavy fire which was opened upon him, he contrived, in less than an hour, to drive on shore, where they were eventually wrecked.[2] In the ensuing April, as second in command of the fleet under Lord Gambier, he witnessed the destruction of the French shipping in Aix Roads – an enterprise which, although intrusted by the Admiralty to the conduct of the present Earl of Dundonald, he had himself volunteered to undertake by means of fire-ships.[3] His judicious arrangement, however, of the boats, and the zealous co-operation he afforded, gained the very high approbation of Lord Gambier, and he had the honour of receiving the thanks of Parliament. In the autumn of 1810 he was appointed to the chief command at the Cape of Good Hope, whither he proceeded in the Scipion 74. He had been instructed to take command, on his arrival there, of the naval part of the expedition against the Isle of France; but that colony having surrendered before he reached his destination, his doing so was of course rendered unnecessary. In the following year, in consequence of the death of Vice-Admiral Wm. O’Brien Drury and of other circumstances, Rear-Admiral Stopford felt himself called upon to repair (a measure which obtained the approval of the Admiralty) to the East Indies, for the purpose of directing the naval operations apainst the island of Java. The zealous and cordial manner in which he coalesced with the army had the effect of expediting the conquest,[4]’ and he was again for his conduct gratified with the thanks of Parliament. He sailed next for the Isle of France, whence, having organised everything connected with the naval department, he returned to the Cape. He continued there, with his flag successively in the Lion 64 and Nisus 38, until relieved, at his own request, by Rear-Admiral Tyler; and in April, 1813 (he had been advanced to the rank of Vice-Admiral 12 Aug. 1812), he arrived in England in the President 38. He was created a K.C.B. 2 Jan. 1815, a full Admiral 27 May, 1825, a G.C.B. 6 June, 1831, and a G.C.M.G. 10 May, 1837; he commanded in chief at Portsmouth from 17 April, 1827, until 30 April, 1830; and on 9 Feb. 1837 he hoisted his flag on board the Princess Charlotte 104, as Commander-in-Chief in the Mediterranean, where he remained until July, 1841. The importance of his services during the latter period, his career of success on the coast of Syria, and his triumph at Acre, are yet vivid in the recollection of our readers; and we are relieved from the necessity, which our limits, indeed, forbid, of entering into a detail of them.[5] Suffice it, therefore, to observe, that Sir Robert and his fleet received a vote of thanks from both Houses of Parliament; that those who had served under him were all allotted medals by the Turkish Government; and that he himself, before he left the Mediterranean, was appointed, 1 May, 1841, Governor of Greenwich Hospital, besides obtaining from the city of London its freedom in an elegantly-carved oaken box; from the Sultan a letter of thanks, accompanied by the imperial nishân of honour and merit, and a magnificent sword, the handle of which was studded with jewels; from the Emperor Nicholas the Order of St. George of Russia; from the King of Prussia the Grand Cross of the Red Eagle; and from the Emperor of Austria the Order of Maria Theresa. He was offered, we believe, a peerage, but declined it. Twelve Captains who were with him at Acre were nominated Companions of the Bath – such, at least, as had not been so decorated before; and 10 Commanders, 23 Lieutenants, and 50 Mates were promoted.
For his conduct at St. Domingo Sir Robt. Stopford received a gold medal from the Admiralty. About 1806 he was elected M.P. for Ipswich; and in April, 1834, he was appointed Rear-Admiral of the United Kingdom. He married, 29 June, 1809, Mary, daughter of the late Capt. Robt. Fanshawe R.N., Resident Commissioner of Plymouth Dockyard (see note, p. 347), by whom he has left issue three sons (the two eldest, Robert Fanshawe and James John, Captains R.N.) and four daughters. Another daughter, now deceased, was married to Lord Henry Russell, son of the late Duke of Bedford, and half-brother of Lord John Russell, M.P.
STOPFORD. (Capt., 1840. f-p., 16; h-p., 7.)
Robert Fanshawe Stopford, born 19 Dec. 1811, is eldest son of the late Admiral Hon. Sir Robt. Stopford, G.C.B., G.C.M.G.
This officer entered the Navy 6 Aug. 1824; and obtained his first commission 24 Dec. 1830. His succeeding appointments were – 25 Feb. 1831, to the St. Vincent 120, Capt. Humphrey Fleming Senhouse, stationed in the Mediterranean, where he remained for about three years – 12 Aug. 1835, to the Cleopatra 26, Capt. Hon. Geo. Grey, in which ship he escorted the Countess of Durham and suite to St. Petersburgh, then proceeded to South America, and ultimately conveyed the Marquess of Clanricarde as Ambassador to the former Court – and, 7 April, 1837, to the Princess Charlotte 104, as Flag-Lieutenant to his father in the Mediterranean. He was advanced to the rank of Commander 28 June, 1838; was appointed in that capacity to the Zebra 16 and Phoenix steamer, both in the Medi-
