A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Mitford, Robert
MITFORD. (Rear-Admiral, 1846. f-p., 18; h-p., 35.)
Robert Mitford, born 26 Jan. 1781, is second son of the late Bertram Mitford. Esq., of Mitford Castle, co. Northumberland, by Tabitha, daughter of Fras. Johnson, Esq., M.D., of Newcastle. The Rear-Admiral, who belongs to an old baronial family celebrated in earlier days as border chieftains, is uncle of Lieut. B. M. Atherton, R.N., and a relative of Miss Mary Russell Mitford, the admired authoress of ‘Our Village.’
This officer entered the Navy, 8 Oct. 1794, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the San Fiorenzo of 42 guns, Capts. Sir Harry Burrard Neale and Wm. Chas. Paterson. While in that ship, besides being much in attendance on the King off Weymouth, he assisted, in company with La Nymphe 36, at the capture of La Résistance of 48 and La Constance of 24 guns, 9 March, 1797 – passed, soon afterwards, through the mutinous fleet at the Nore – took part in a very warm action of nearly two hours, which terminated in the defeat, by the San Fiorenzo, and her consort the Amelia 38, of a French squadron, consisting of three frigates and a gun-vessel, 9 April, 1799 – and, we believe, was present, 2 July following, in an attack made by Rear-Admiral Chas. Morice Pole on a Spanish squadron lying in Aix Roads. After serving for some time with Capt. Philip Chas. Durham in the Anson and Endymion frigates, and with Capt. Bendall Robt. Littlehales in the Centaur 74, he was promoted, 13 Jan. 1802, to a Lieutenancy in the Resistance 36, Capts. Henry Digby and Hon. Philip Wodehouse. Invaliding from that ship in the ensuing Sept., he was next, 28 Jan. 1804 and 30 Oct. 1806, appointed to the Cerberus 32 and Indefatigable 44, Capts. Wm. Selby and John Tremayne Rodd, both employed, as had been the other ships, on the Home station. On 16 Feb. 1807 he was advanced to the command of the Duchess of Bedford armed ship; and on 24 May, 1808, after having been attached to the force off Cadiz and Gibraltar, he assumed that of the Espoir 18. In that sloop we find him, in June, 1809, assisting at the capture of the islands of Ischia and Procida and of 18 gun-boats;[1] and on 25 April, 1810, uniting with the Spartan and Success frigates in an attack upon the enemy at Terracina; on which occasion, previously to the bringing off of several vessels by the boats of the three ships, he distinguished himself by his great energy and judgment in running in and sounding under the various batteries. He was nominated, 2 Feb. 1813, Acting-Captain of the Minstrel 24, and, in that vessel, to which he was confirmed 31 March following, he continued employed, still in the Mediterranean, until Aug. 1814, when he invalided. He accepted his present rank 1 Oct. 1846.
Rear-Admiral Mitford married, in Dec. 1830, Margaret, daughter of Jas. Dunsmure, Esq., of Edinburgh, by whom he has issue one daughter.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1809, p. 1437.