A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Crofton, Henry Robert
CROFTON. (Lieut., 1842. f-p., 12; h-p., 1.)
Henry Robert Crofton is fifth son of Duke Crofton, Esq., of Lakefield, co. Leitrim, a Magistrate and Deputy-Lieutenant; and brother of Wm. Crofton, Esq., Surgeon R.N. (1846), now attached to the Penelope steam frigate.
This officer entered the Navy, 10 Dec. 1834, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Actaeon 26, Capt. Lord Edw. Russell, with whom he served on the South American station until March, 1838. In the following summer he sailed for the East Indies as Midshipman of the Herald 26, Capt. Joseph Nias, and there removed, in Nov. 1840, to the Modeste 18, Capts. Harry Eyres and Rundle Purges Watson. Participating afterwards in the various operations connected with the war in China, Mr, Crofton landed at the storming of the enemy’s works below Whampoa Reach, mounting 54 pieces of cannon, 27 Feb. 1841[1] – was present, 13 and 16 March following, at the capture of a fort and rafts near the Canton entrance of the Macao passage, and in the boats under Commander Thos. Jordaine Clarke at the taking of Canton[2] – commanded, as Mate, the Modeste’s pinnace at the reduction of Chinghae, 10 Oct. in the same year[3] – assisted in towing four fire-rafts clear of the shipping off Ningpo, in an attack made by the Chinese 10 March, 1842[4] – and, on 15 of the same month, and 18 May and 16 June ensuing, served on shore under Capt. Thos. Bourchier, in the assault on the enemy’s encamped hill of Segoan, and at the capture of Tze-kee and Chapoo, and of the batteries at Woosung.[5] He obtained in consequence a commission dated 23 Dec. 1842; and has since been appointed, 2 Feb. and Aug. 1844, to the Tortoise store-ship, Capt. Wm. Finlaison, and Prometheus steam-sloop, Capt. John Hay – and, 28 July, 1843, to the Alert 6, Capts. Chas. John Bosanquet and Wm. Ellis, all stationed on the coast of Africa, where he is at present employed.