A Naval Biographical Dictionary/FitzClarence, Adolphus
FITZCLARENCE, Lord, G.C.H. (Captain, 1824. f-p., .31; h-p., 2.)
The Right Honourable Lord Adolphus FitzClarence, born 18 Feb. 1802, is second (natural) son of His late Majesty King William IV.; uncle of the present Earl of Munster; brother of Lord Augustus FitzClarence, Rector of Maple Durham, co. Oxford; and brother-in-law of Lord De Lisle and Dudley, Lieut.-Col. Chas. Fox, of the Grenadier Guards, the Earl of Errol, Lord John Fred. Gordon Hallyburton, Capt. R.N., and Viscount Falkland.
This officer entered the Navy, 26 May, 1814, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Impregnable 98, Capts. Hon. Henry Blackwood and Chas. Adam, hearing the flag of H.R.H. the Duke of Clarence, in which ship he shortly afterwards escorted the Allied Sovereigns from Calais to Dover. He then, as Midshipman, joined the Newcastle 50, Capt. Lord Geo. Stuart, on the North American station; on his return whence, in 1815, he proceeded to the Mediterranean in the Tagus 38, Capt. Jas. Whitley Deans Dundas, and there continued to serve on board the Rochfort 80, flag-ship of Sir Thos. Fras. Fremantle, and Glasgow 50, Capt. Hon. Anth. Maitland, until the receipt of his first commission, bearing date 23 April, 1821. He joined, 22 Oct. following, the Euryalus 42, Capt. Augustus Wm. Jas. Clifford, fitting for the station last mentioned, and, attaining the rank of Commander 17 May, 1823, was next appointed, 26 Dec. in the same year, and 28 Feb. 1824, to the Brisk sloop, and Redwing 18, on the North Sea station. Capt. FitzClarence, who acquired his present rank 24 Dec. 1824, was subsequently appointed – 9 Feb. 1826, to the Ariadne 26, in the Mediterranean – 2 July, 1827, to the Challenger 28, in which frigate he brought home the Earl of Dalhousie, late Governor-General of Canada, and then visited Lisbon – and, 28 Aug. 1828, to the Pallas 42, employed in conveying the latter nobleman and the Bishop of Calcutta from Portsmouth to Bengal, General Viscount Combermere from India home, and Col. Fox from Halifax. Since 22 July, 1830, his Lordship has been in uninterrupted command of the Royal George and Victoria and Albert yachts.
He was appointed Groom of the Robes to William IV. 24 July, 1830; granted, 24 May, 1831, the title and precedency of the younger son of a Marquis; nominated a G.C.H. 24 Feb. 1832; and created a Lord of the Bedchamber in Ordinary 5 Jan. 1833. Agents – Messrs. Ommanney.