A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Dunlop, Robert John Wallace
DUNLOP. (Commander, 1842.)
Robert John Wallace Dunlop died in 1846, on the coast of Africa. He was son of Retired Commander Robt. Wallace Dunlop, R.N. (1833), who obtained his Lieutenant’s commission 8 May, 1795, and died 18 July, 1843.
This officer entered the Navy 9 Oct. 1823; and passed his examination in 1830. Obtaining his first commission 6 July, 1836, he was afterwards appointed, on the East India station – 4 Oct. in the same year, to the Winchester 52, flag-ship of Hon. Sir Thos. Bladen Capel – 25 Dec. 1837, to the Wolf 18, Capt. Edw. Stanley – and, 1 July, 1838, to the Favorite 18, Capt. Walter Croker. On 24 June, 1840, he landed with his Captain and a detachment of seamen and marines at Tongataboo, one of the Friendly Islands, for the purpose of assisting the native Christians in a war then raging between them and the heathen part of the population. At the onset, however, of an attack which the British presently made on a fortress situated five miles in shore, and of extraordinary strength, their allies deserted, in consequence of which circumstance, and of the death, with many others, of Capt. Croker, they were compelled to retreat. From that period Lieut. Dunlop – who himself had been desperately wounded, but had still continued to fire the guns – held the acting-command of the Favorite until 3 Sept. 1841. He was confirmed in the rank of Commander 21 Feb. 1842; and, from 15 Sept. 1843, until the period of his death as above, served in command of the Star sloop on the coast of Africa.
The Commander was awarded, 2 July, 1842, a pension for his wounds of 91l. 5s. He married, 6 July, 1841, Eulalia Hayes, second daughter of the late Jas. Ross, Esq., Light Infantry Depot. Agents – Messrs. Chard.