A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Irvine, Charles Chamberlayne
IRVINE. (Retired Captain, 1840. f-p., 12; h-p., 46.)
Charles Chamberlayne Irvine entered the Navy, in Aug. 1789, as Midshipman, on board the Orion 74, Capt. Chas, Chamberlayne, from which ship, after having made a voyage to the West Indies, he was discharged in April, 1790. Rejoining the same officer in Oct. 1794, as Master’s Mate, in the Bombay Castle 74, he proceeded to the Mediterranean, where he had an opportunity of sharing in Admiral Hotham’s partial action of 13 July, 1795. On 7 Oct. following, having in the mean while removed to the Censeur 74, Capt. John Gore, he was in that ship when she was taken, after a gallant defence, by a French squadron under Admiral Richery. On his exchange taking place, Mr. Irvine was received, in the spring of 1796, on board the Porcupine, a small frigate, commanded by Capt. John Draper. In 1797, on his return from a second visit to the West Indies, during her passage whence the Porcupine had been dismasted in a hurricane, it was his lot to be one of the officers proscribed by the mutineers at Spithead, in opposing whom he incurred an injury which greatly crippled his right hand. During three months of the ensuing summer, Mr. Irvine, it appears, commanded a gun-brig, named the Brothers, lying at Plymouth, He then successively joined the Pomone frigate, Capt. Robt. Carthew Reynolds, employed in cruizing with the western squadron, and the Queen Charlotte 100, flag-ship in the Mediterranean of Lord Keith; and on 30 Aug. 1799, he was promoted to a Lieutenancy in the Princess Royal 98, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Thos. Lennox Frederick. Being next appointed to the Melpomène 38, Capt. Sir Chas. Hamilton, he served with the expedition to the Texel, and in April, 1800, was present at the surrender of the African island of Gorée. On the latter occasion he was placed in charge of the Gorbe schooner of 10 guns, and sent on a cruize off Senegal. This vessel, in the course of a month, being condemned as unfit for service, he obtained acting-command of the ship-sloop Gorée of 16 guns, in which he further cruized in the same vicinity until compelled to invalid in Feb. 1801. Mr. Irvine, who also officiated for a short time as Lieut.-Governor of Gorée itself, subsequently, in Oct. 1804, assumed command of the Tickler gun-brig, off the coast of France. Between June, 1805, and April, 1808, he served, on the West India and Mediterranean stations, in the Dolphin, Capt. Isaac Ferrieres, Ocean 98, Capt Fras. Pender, Endymion 40, Capt. Edw. Durnford King; and, as First-Lieutenant, in the Eagle 74, Capt. Chas. Rowley. On the date last mentioned he became Acting-Captain of the Glatton 54; and on 24 of the proximate month he was made Commander into the Duchess of Bedford armed ship of 18 guns. He came home with convoy in 1809 in the Lord Eldon 18; was then paid off; and, not having since been employed, accepted his present rank 10 Sept. 1840.
Capt. Irvine married Susan, daughter of the late Sir John Reade, Bart., and aunt of the present Sir John Chandos Beade, Bart., of Shipton Court, co. Oxford.