A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Madden, Charles
MADDEN. (Commander, 1829. f-p., 20; h-p., 16.)
Charles Madden is fifth son of the late Capt. Wm. John Madden, R.M. (1780), Agent for the Royal Marines at Portsmouth; brother of Sir Fred. Madden, Kt., Keeper of MSS. in the British Museum; nephew of the late Major-General Sir Geo. Madden, Kt., C.B., K.T.S.; and brother-in-law of the late Rear-Admiral Sam. Jackson, C.B.
This officer entered the Navy, 1 Feb. 1811, as Thr’d-cl. Vol., on board the Venerable 74, Capts. Sir Home Popham, Jas. Whitley Deans Dundas, and David Milne; under the first-named of whom he assisted at the blockade of Brest, L’Orient, and Cherbourg, and was actively employed in co-operation with the patriots on the north coast of Spain, where, it appears, he witnessed, as Midshipman, the reduction of Lequeytio and Castro, the attacks upon Puerta Galetta, Guetaria, and Santander, and the destruction of the fortifications of Bermeo, Plencia, Galea, Algorta, Begona, El Campillo las Quersas, and Xebiles. Rejoining Sir Home Popham in Feb. 1813 in the Stirling Castle 74, he sailed soon afterwards with the Earl of Moira for Calcutta; on his return whence in the summer of 1814 he removed to the Magnificent 74, Capt. Willoughby Thos. Lake, and proceeded to the West Indies. On that ship being paid off in Aug. 1815 Mr. Madden became in succession attached to the Lacedaemonian and Niger frigates, in the latter of which (they were both commanded by Capt. Sam, Jackson) he escorted Hon. Chas. Bagot as Ambassador to the United States, and Sir John Sherbrooke, Governor of Canada, from Halifax to Quebec. In Sept. 1818, after he had been for a period of 17 months on shore, and had passed his examination, he joined the Tartar 42, fitting for the broad pendant of Sir Geo. Ralph Collier, Commander-in-Chief on the coast of Africa. On his return home in June, 1819, he was transferred to the Sybille frigate, bearing the flag at Jamaica of his early friend Sir Home Popham, who promoted him, 23 Sept. following, to a death-vacancy in the Wasp 18, Capt. Thos. Wren Carter. That sloop being paid off in Aug. 1820, Mr. Madden’s next appointments were, again on the West India station – 3 Dec. 1822, to the Ringdove 18, Capts. Geo. Frederick, and Edwin Ludlow, Rich, in which vessel he was present at Demarara during an insurrection of the negroes in Aug. 1823 – 8 June, 1826, to the Valorous 26, Capt. the Earl of Huntingdon – 29 Jan. 1828, to the Magnificent 74, receiving-ship, Capts. Wm. Robt. Ashley Pettman, Henry Gosset, Williams Sandom, and Geo. Wm. Conway Courtenay – in Nov. 1828, to the temporary command of the Victor 18 – 14 Jan. 1829, to the Mersey 26, Capt. G. W. C. Courtenay – and 1 June and 13 July following, to the acting command of the Speedwell schooner and Harlequin 18. He came home in the ensuing Sept. on board a transport, and on his arrival was confirmed in his present rank by a commission bearing date 30 March, 1829. His last appointment was, 13 Nov. 1840, to the Coast Guard; in which service he remained, as an Inspecting Commander, until 5 Jan. 1846.