A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Grote, Joseph
GROTE. (Lieut., 1823. f-p., 13; h-p., 20.)
Joseph Grote, born 5 Feb. 1801, is fourth son of the late Geo. Grote, Esq., a Justice of the Peace for cos. Kent and Oxford, by Selina Mary, daughter of the Rev. Dr. Peckwell. He is brother of Geo. Grote, Esq., M.P. for the city of London, the eminent banker; also of Wm. Henry Grote, Esq., late Major in the 33rd Foot; and of Andw. and Arthur Grote, Esqs., of the Hon.E.I.Co.’s Civil Service, Bengal.
This officer entered the Navy, 1 April, 1814, as Third-cl. Vol., on board the Eurotas 38, Capts. Hon. Edm. Sexten Pery Knox, Robt. Bloye, and Jas. Lillicrap; in which ship, after conveying the Due de Berri to Cherbourg, and Admiral Fleeming to Gibraltar, he served, until Dec. 1815, on the Home station, and was employed for some time in that year in guarding Napoleon Buonaparte during his detention at Plymouth. Until his promotion to the rank of Lieutenant, which took place 20 March, 1823, just three years after he had passed his examination, Mr. Grote was next successively employed; as Midshipman and Master’s Mate, on the West India, Cork, and Newfoundland stations, in the Brazen 18, Capt. Jas. Stirling, Tonnant 80, and Sir Francis Drake 38, flag-ships of Sir Benj. Hallowell and Sir Chas. Hamilton, Drake 10 (which vessel, on 23 June, 1822, was totally wrecked in St. Shott’s Bay), Capts. Octavius Venables Vernon and Chas. Adolphus Baker, and Clinker 12, Lieut.Commander John Eagar. For his exertions on the occasion of the wreck of the Drake, Mr. Grote, who was left the senior surviving officer, had the satisfaction to be presented, immediately after the sitting of the consequent Court-martial, with a commission dated as above, appointing him to the Niemen 28, commanded on the Halifax station by Capt. Edw. Reynolds Sibly. On 18 Oct. 1824 he joined the Boadicea 46, bearing the broad pendant of Sir Jas. Brisbane in the East Indies; where, from July, 1825, until the cessation of hostilities, he took an active part in the Burmese war. He was employed in command, during that period, of a division of boats on the river Irawady, being five months in the ship’s pinnace without once sleeping out of her, and 800 miles away from the ship. Since the paying-off of the Boadicea in 1827, Lieut. Grote has remained unemployed.