A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Carre, Robert Riddell
CARRE, formerly Riddell. (Captain, 1819. f-p., 20; h-p., 31.)
Robert Riddell Carre, born 27 Feb. 1782, in Edinburgh, is third son of Wm. Riddell, Esq., one of an old Scottish family, by Elizabeth, only daughter of John Carre, Esq., of Cavers-Carre. He acquired his present surname in 1817, on inheriting the estates of his maternal uncle, the late Alex. Carre, Esq., of Cavers-Carre.
This officer entered the Navy, 2 June, 1796, as Midshipman, on board the Albatross 18, Capt. Geo. Scott, on the Home station, where he assisted in capturing, 8 Sept. and 14 Nov. 1797, the privateers De Braave, of 5 guns, 8 swivels, and 25 men, and L’Emouchette, of 8 guns, 6 swivels, and 55 men. He next, in succession, joined the Kite 18, Capts. Wm. Brown and Chas. Lydiard, and Veteran 64, Capt. Archibald Collingwood Dickson; and, in the latter ship, was present at the surrender of the Dutch Rear-Admiral Storey’s fleet in the Texel, 30 Aug. 1799, and at the battle of Copenhagen, 2 April, 1801. After an attachment of some months during the peace to one of the Plymouth guardships, Mr. Carre, in April, 1803, rejoined Capt. Dickson, as a passed Midshipman, in the Sceptre 64, of which ship, on proceeding to the East Indies, he was appointed an Acting-Lieutenant in 1804, and a confirmed one, 5 Oct. 1805. He returned home, in consequence of ill health, in April, 1807; was next, in July following, appointed to the Orion 74, commanded also by Capt. Dickson; and continued to serve in that ship, latterly as First-Lieutenant, on the North Sea and Baltic stations – attending, in the mean while, the expedition to Flushing – until advanced to the rank of Commander, 1 Feb. 1812. Capt. Carre’s last appointment afloat was, on 8 Dec. in the same year, to the Britomart 10, in which we find him serving off the Scheldt and Texel, on the Irish and Portsmouth stations, and eventually at the bombardment of Algiers, 27 Aug. 1816. He was placed on half-pay 15 Nov. following; and attained Post-rank 12 Aug. 1819. His acceptance of the Retirement took place 1 Oct. 1846.