Jump to content

A Naval Biographical Dictionary/FitzRoy, Charles William Henry Gage

From Wikisource
1714309A Naval Biographical Dictionary — FitzRoy, Charles William Henry GageWilliam Richard O'Byrne

FITZROY. (Lieut., 1828. f-p., 14; h-p., 13.)

Charles William Henry Gage FitzRoy, born 7 Jan. 1807, is fourth son of Lieut.-General the Hon. Wm. FitzRoy, of Kempston, co. Norfolk, who died 19 May, 1837, by Catherine, sister of Sir Simon Houghton Clarke, Bart.; brother of Lieut Geo. Wm. Howe FitzRoy, R.N., who fell at Navarin, 20 Oct. 1827; nephew of Major-General Sir Wm. Ponsonby, who was killed at Waterloo; and first-cousin of the present Lord Southampton.

This officer entered the Royal Naval College 1 March, 1820; and embarked 1 March, 1822, as Midshipman, on board the Active 48, Capt. Andw. King, with whom he visited the West Indies, and served off Algiers and Lisbon. He then joined the Terror bomb, Capt. Alex. Dundas Young Arbuthnot, and Dryad 46, Capt. Hon. Robt. Rodney; and on passing his examination, in April, 1826, was appointed Mate of the Java 60, bearing the flag in the East Indies of Rear-Admiral Wm. Hall Gage – of which ship he was created a Lieutenant 21 June, 1828. He afterwards became attached – 28 April, 1830, to the Briton 46, Capt. John Duff Markland, on the Lisbon station – and, 8 Feb. 1834, to the Rainbow 28, Capt. Thos. Bennett, in the West Indies. Since 1836 he has not been employed.

Lieut. FitzRoy, who was severely wounded in Portugal while exploring the country during the war between Don Pedro and Don Miguel, has also lost an arm. For his conduct in twice jumping into the sea to save the lives of others, he has obtained a medal from the Royal Humane Society. He married, in June, 1837, Caroline Emily, third daughter of the late Rich. Phayre, Esq., of Shrewsbury, and has issue. Agents – Messrs. Ommanney.