C.B. formerly in command of the eastern district of Dacca, who died, Oct. 22, 1825.
This officer was born May 8, 1780; and he appears to have entered the navy as midshipman on board the Formidable 98, Mar. 12, 1796. He subsequently served in the Trusty 50, Oiseau frigate, Victorious 74, and Sceptre 64; from which latter ship he was providentially absent, either on duty or leave, when she was wrecked, in Table Bay, Nov. 5, 1799.[1]
On the 5th April, 1801, Mr. Popham, then belonging to the Zealous 74, was upset in a boat, off North Yarmouth, and not picked up until he had been nearly two hours in the water. Being then placed too near a large fire, his right leg was so dreadfully burnt that he could not leave his bed for upwards of six months. He obtained the rank of lieutenant, Oct. 7, 1801.
We next find Mr. Popham in the Glory 98, successively bearing the flags of Sir John Orde and Rear-Admiral Charles Stirling; from which ship he was removed to the Orion 74, subsequent to Sir Robert Calder’s action, which ended in the capture of two Spanish line-of-battle ships, July 22, 1805.[2]
The Orion, commanded by Captain Archibald Collingwood Dickson, formed part of the fleet under Admiral Gambier, in the expedition against Copenhagen, from whence Lieutenant Popham brought home the Rota, a Danish frigate of the largest class. During the summer of 1808, he was frequently employed in the Orion’s boats, protecting convoys through the Sound, and engaged with the enemy’s flotilla. In 1809, he accompanied Sir Richard J. Strachan to Walcheren, and there acted as aid-de-camp to the naval commander-in-chief.[3] A very gallant exploit afterwards performed by the boats of the Quebec frigate, under his directions, is thus officially described:–
