A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Aylmer, Frederick William
AYLMER, C.B., K.F.M. (Rear-Admiral, of the Red, 1837. f-p., 20; h-p., 37.)
The Honourable Frederick William Aylmer, born 12 Oct. 1777, is second surviving son of Henry, fourth Lord Aylmer, by Catherine, daughter of Sir Chas. Whitworth, of Leyborne, and sister of Chas. Earl Whitworth; and a descendant of Matthew, first Lord Aylmer, a distinguished naval officer in the reign of James II., who attained the rank of Rear-Admiral of the Red, and was elevated to the peerage for his professional services. He is heir to his brother, General Lord Aylmer, G.C.B.
This officer entered the Navy, 24 Nov. 1790, as a Volunteer, on board the Syren 32, Capt. John Manley, with whom, after conveying the Duke of York to Holland at the commencement et hostilities, he served, in the Apollo 36, until the receipt of his first commission, 17 Dec. 1796. Being next appointed, 22 March, 1797, to the Swiftsure 74 Capt. Benj. Hallowell, he took part in that ship im the battle of the Nile, and assisted in the operations; which led to the reinstatement ef the King of the Two Sicilies in the full sovereignty of his dominions. He subsequently obtained the Turkish gold medal for his services during the Egyptian campaign of 1801; and, after officiating for a few months as Acting-Commander of the Fury bomb, was confirmed in that rank by commission dated 7 Jan 1802. Capt. Aylmer, whom we subsequently find commanding the Delight and Wasp sloops, in the latter of which he effected the capture, 19 July 1803 of Le Désespoir privateer, of 2 guns and 28 men, was eventually apppointed Acting-Captain, in March, 1805, of the Glory 98, bearing the flag off Cadiz of Sir John Orde. His promotion to Post-rank was established by the Admiralty on 18 May in the same year; but from that period he appears to have remained on half-pay until 1 June, 1809, when we find him assuming command of the Narcissus 32. In the early part of 1810, Capt. Aylmer, while cruizing in the Channel, captured two privateers, the Duguay Trouin, and Aimable Josephine, carrying between them 28 guns and 180 men; and, in the course of the ensuing summer, he united with Sir Robt. Mends in a series of very active operations on the north coast of Spain, where he commanded the naval brigade in concert with the patriot forces under General Porlier, came frequently into victorious contact with the enemy between Santona and Santander, and evinced all the zeal and ability of an excellent officer.[1] In Jan. 1812, he next joined the Fortunée 36, in which he cruized for four months on the Irish station. After an interval of half-pay he was appointed, on 14 of the following Sept., to the Pactolus 38, and while in that frigate, in the summer of 1815, he conducted an eminently successful expedition to the Gironde in support of the French King, which terminated in the royal colours being hoisted on the castle of Bordeaux and in the surrounding districts[2]. Previously to the latter event, the Pactolus, besides escorting the Duke of Cambridge to Cuxhaven, and his late Majesty to the Scheldt, had, we believe, assisted at the bombardment of Stonington, in America. Capt. Aylmer, whose last appointment was to the Severn, of 50 guns, commanded that ship at the memorable battle of Algiers, 27 Aug. 1816, and was in consequence nominated a C.B.[3] The insignia of a K.F.M. were also conferred upon him, in consideration of his having conveyed to Naples the whole of the emancipated Italian slaves and 357,000 dollars, which the Dey of Algiers had been compelled to return to the King of the Two Sicilies. He was appointed Naval Aide-de-Camp to William IV. 4 Aug. 1830; and on 10 Jan. 1837, was promoted to Flag-rank. Agents – Messrs. Halford and Co.