A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Popplewell, Matthew James
POPPLEWELL. (Commander, 1813. f-p., 16; h-p., 35.)
Matthew James Popplewell is son of the late Mr, Thos. Popplewell, Master R.N. (1793).
This officer entered the Navy, 2 May, 1796, as a Volunteer, on board the Flora 36, Capt. Robt. Gambier Middleton, in which ship he served on the Lisbon and Cadiz stations until Oct. 1799. In July, 1801, he re-embarked on board the Goliath 74, Capt. Wm. Essington, whom, in April, 1802, being at the time in the West Indies, he followed as Midshipman into the Sans Pareil 80. He next, in Sept. of the latter year, joined L’Oiseau, Capt. John Phillips, lying at Plymouth; and, after serving for two years on the Mediterranean, Baltic, and Home stations in the William store-ship and Orestes 14, both commanded by Capt. Thos. Brown, and Royal Sovereign 100, Capt.Sir Harry Burrard Neale, was successively, in Jan. and Oct. 1805, nominated Sub-Lieutenant of the Safeguard, Lieut.- Commander Robt. Balfour, and Raven brig, Capt. Thos. Brown. On 22 Jan. 1806 he was promoted to the full rank of Lieutenant. In the course of the same year he was appointed (to the Aeolus 32, Capt. Lord Wm. FitzRoy, and Glory 98, commanded by the late Vice-Admiral Wm. Albany Otway, under whom, from Jan. 1808 until officially advanced to his present rank 6 Nov. 181S, we find him filling the post of Flag-Lieutenant in the Lively 38, Ganges 74, Barfleur 98, Gladiator 50, Monarch 74, Caesar 80 (the two latter forming part of the Walcheren expeditionary force). Gladiator again, Thisbe 28, and Adamant 50, on the Lisbon, Portsmouth, and Leith stations. During that period, besides having brought the Venteur home from Flushing, he was at times intrusted with the command, on the coast of Norway, of the Clio, Nightingale, and Sarpedon. Since the date last mentioned he has been on half-pay.
Commander Popplewell is married and has issue.