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A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Milward, Clement

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1836259A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Milward, ClementWilliam Richard O'Byrne

MILWARD. (Rear-Admiral, 1846. f-p., 19; h-p., 35.)

Clement Milwardentered the Navy, 26 Oct. 1793, as A.B., on board the Alarm 32, Capt. Lewis Robertson; and in the following year was severely wounded, as Midshipman of that frigate, in an attack upon Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe. After two years of servitude, still on the West India station, in the Veteran 64, and Solebay 32, both commanded by Capt. Wm. Henry Bayntun, and, as Master’s Mate, in the Etrusco, Capt. Jas. Hanson, he joined, in Aug. 1796, the Prince of Wales 98, flag-ship of Rear-Admiral Henry Harvey, under whom, in Feb. 1797, he beheld the surrender of Trinidad. In Oct. of the latter year he became Acting-Lieutenant of the Favorite sloop, Capt. Lord Camelford;[1] and in Aug. 1799, being then again in the Prince of Wales, under Lord Hugh Seymour, he assisted, as Midshipman, at the capture of Surinam. On that occasion he was again invested with the rank of Acting-Lieutenant, and appointed to the Surinam, a prize-corvette of 20 guns; to which vessel, commanded by Capt. Christopher Cole, the Admiralty confirmed him by commission dated 8 July, 1800. Invaliding home from the West Indies in Oct. 1802, he subsequently joined – 12 July, 1803, the Phaeton 38, Capts. Geo. Cockburn and John Wood, in which frigate, after serving off Havre de Grace, and conveying Mr. Merry, the British Minister Plenipotentiary, to the United States, he proceeded to the East Indies, and was afforded, we believe, an opportunity of participating, when in company with the Harrier sloop, in an action of two hours, fought, 2 Aug. 1805, with the French 36-gun frigate Sémillante and several batteries at the entrance of the Straits of St. Bernardino, Philippine Islands – 3 April, 1807, the Russell 74, Capt. Thos. Gordon Caulfeild, also in the East Indies – 19 Feb. 1808, for a passage home, the Monmouth 64, Capt. Edw. Durnford King – and in Sept, 1808, and March, 1809, the Pompée and Belleisle 74’s, both commanded by Capt. Cockburn, under whom, in the Pompée, he assisted at the reduction of Martinique. On his return to England in the Belleisle with the surrendered Governor and garrison of the latter island, he was presented with a Commander’s commission dated 14 June, 1809. He was next, 28 Dec. 1810, and 8 Nov. 1811, appointed to the Elk and Mercury sloops, on the West India station; where, on 1 Jan. 1813, he was nominated Acting-Captain of the Herald 20. Being confirmed to that vessel 28 May following, and continuing in her until 11 Oct. 1815, he succeeded in effecting the capture of several of the enemy’s vessels, and took an active part in the expedition against New Orleans. Not having been further employed, he accepted his present rank 1 Oct. 1846. Agents – Messrs. Halford and Co.


  1. Mr. Milward was the officer from whom Lord Camelford took the pistol on the well-known occasion on which he shot Lieut. Chas. Peterson, of H.M.S. Woolwich, for mutinous conduct at English Harbour, Antigua, 13 Jan. 1798.