A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Denman, Joseph
DENMAN, F.R.S. (Captain, 1841. f-p., 15; h-p., 9.)
The Honourable Joseph Denman, born 23 June, 1810, is second son of the Right Hon. Lord Denman, Chief Justice of the Court of Queen’s Bench, by Theodosia Anne, eldest daughter of the late Rev. Rich. Vevers, of Saxby, and grand-daughter of Sir Edmund Anderson, Bart. He is brother-in-law of Capt. R. L. Baynes, R.N., C.B., and of Lieut. Fred. Holland, R.N.
This officer entered the Navy, 7 April, 1823, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Dover 28, Capt. Sam. Chambers, bearing the flag at Leith of Sir John Poo Beresford. In Sept. following he removed, as Midshipman, to the Sybille 48, Capt. Sam. John Pechell, fitting for the Mediterranean station; where, in June, 1826, he served with the boats of that ship in a very sanguinary action with pirates off the island of Candia. After a further attachment of more than four years to the Thetis 46, Capt. Arthur Batt Bingham, and Cruizer and Satellite sloops, Capts. Edw. Griffith Colpoys, John Milligan Laws, and John Parker, on the South American and East India stations, Mr. Denman, who had passed his examination 2 Sept. 1829, obtained a Lieutenant’s commission dated 9 March, 1831. He was next appointed – 1 May, 1832, to the Snake 16, Capt. Wm. Robertson, employed on the North Sea and South American stations – and, 17 Nov. 1834, to the command, off the coast of Africa, of the Curlew 10. Assuming the rank of Commander 7 Aug. 1835, he subsequently, on 26 Dec. 1836 and 17 Nov. 1839, joined the Scylla and Wanderer sloops, in the former of which he served for two years on the Lisbon station. While officiating, in 1840 and 1841, as senior naval officer on that part of the coast of Africa lying between Cape Verde and Cape Palmas, Capt. Denman, owing to most offensive conduct on the part of the slave-dealers at the Gallinas, entered into a treaty with the native chiefs, by virtue of which all the factories were destroyed, the white offenders expelled, and the slaves ready for exportation given up. He then proceeded to Sierra Leone, where the latter, 900 in number, were emancipated. These measures being strongly approved by government, Capt. Denman was rewarded with Post-rank 23 Aug. 1841, immediately after the arrival of the official reports in England. Since that period, however, he has been on half-pay.
The slave-dealers of the Gallinas have since, for damages laid at 360,000l., brought actions against Capt. Denman, which, we believe, are still pending, and are defended at the expense of government. This officer, in Dec. 1842, was appointed a Commissioner for drawing up a code of instructions for H.M. ships employed in the suppression of the slave-trade. In 1844, at his own suggestion, the successful anti-slavery plan of operation, now in adoption on the coast of Africa, was put into force. Capt. Denman married, 12 Feb. 1844, Grace, youngest daughter of J. Watts Russell, Esq., of Islam, co. Stafford, and of Biggin Hall, co. Northampton. Agents – Hallett and Robinson.