A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Hambly, Peter Sampson
HAMBLY. (Captain, 1841. f-p., 21; h-p., 29.)
Peter Sampson Hambly entered the Navy, 1 Dec. 1797, as Midshipman, on board the Ville de Paris 110, Capt. Hon. Geo. Grey, bearing the flag off Lisbon and in the Mediterranean of Earl St. Vincent. Removing, subsequently, to the Emerald 36, Capt. Thos. Moutray Waller, he assisted in that ship, in company with the Leviathan 74, and was slightly wounded, at the capture, 7 April, 1800, of the two Spanish frigates Carmen and Florentina, each laden with 500 quintals of quicksilver, for the use of the mines at Lima. Independently of that service, he was frequently employed in the Emerald’s boats, off the port of Cadiz, was instrumental to the capture of several privateers, and was a second time wounded. While next attached, as Master’s Mate, between the summers of 1800 and 1802, to the Florentina 36, Capt. John Broughton, he served at the landing of the troops in Egypt, and received a sabre-cut in the right wrist, 21 March, 1801, in the battle in which Sir Ralph Abercromby was killed. In April, 1803, after he had been for a short period borne on the books of the Tonnant 80, Capt. Sir Edw. Pellew, he joined the Prince 98, Capt. Rich. Grindall, under whom he fought at Trafalgar 21 Oct. 1805. At the close of the conflict, Mr. Hambly was sent on board the Spanish 130-gun ship Santissima Trinidad, and he remained until within a short time of her going down, the water, when he left, having reached above her lower deck. Being promoted, in honour of the victory, by commission dated 24 Dec. in the same year, he was next appointed – 27 March, 1806, to the Morgiana sloop, Capts. Robt. Raynsford and Wm. Landless, on the Mediterranean station – 18 Dec. 1806, to the Queen 98, Capts. Eras. Pender, Wm. Shields, Chas. Inglis, and Thos. Geo. Shortland, employed off Cadiz, the Dardanells, &c. – 11 July, 1808, to the Defence 74, Capt. Chas. Ekins, by whom, after assisting at the blockade of Flushing and Kronstat, he was intrusted with the erection and command of a battery on an island in the Gulf of Finland, for the purpose of obstructing the movements of the Russians – and, in Oct. 1810, to the command of part of the flotilla employed at the defence of Cadiz, where, and at Tarifa, he continued in almost daily collision with the enemy, until the autumn of 1813, when be invalided.[1] In June, 1814, he joined the flotilla on the river St. Lawrence, and when the 100-gun ship of that name was ready for launching he was appointed her First-Lieutenant. By the time she was nearly equipped for sea, he was sent to take the command on Lake Champlain, where he remained until the month of Dec. He then became Senior of the Psyche 32, Capt. Peter Fisher, from which ship, stationed on Lalce Ontario, he removed to the acting-command, 11 July, 1815, of the Star sloop. From 12 of the following Oct. until 30 Nov. 1816, we next find him superintending the naval establishment on Lake Huron. He obtained a second promotal commission 12 Aug. 1819; and from 3 Aug. 1838, until his Post-promotion, 23 Nov. 1841, was employed in command of the Orestes 18, on the South American station. He has since been on half-pay.
Capt. Hambly, we believe, has been twice married – the second time, 17 Nov. 1842, to Caroline, second daughter of the late Lieut.-Colonel Maule. He has four sons. Agents – Messrs. Stilwell.
- ↑ On one occasion a shot passed tlirough the side of Mr. Hambly’s gun-boat, and it was with the greatest difficulty she could be kept afloat; and on another she had a marine killed during an attack on the batteries at St. Mary’s, the guns in one of which were spiked.