A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Ralph, Robert
RALPH. (Lieutenant, 1815. f-p.,31; h-p., 10.)
Robert Ralph entered the Navy, 5 July, 1806, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Naiad 38, Capt. Thos. Dundas, with whom he continued actively employed as Midshipman in the same ship and in the Ganges 74, until April, 1811. In the Naiad he assisted at the blockade of several of the enemy’s ports along the French coast, witnessed the destruction of three frigates under the batteries of Sable d’Olonne, and cruized with activity in the Channel, where he contributed to the capture, among other vessels, of the Fanny privateer, of 16 guns and 80 men, and Superb letter-of-marque, of 4 guns and 20 men. In the Ganges he was engaged, as also in a prize gun-boat, in affording protection to the trade passing through the Baltic. After accompanying, under Sir Joseph Sydney Yorke, a body of troops intended as a reinforcement for Lord Wellington’s army in Portugal, he joined, in the course of 1811, the Royal George 100, Laurestinus 24, and Orlando 36, all commanded by Capt. John Clavell. While attached to the ship last mentioned we find him serving off the Western Islands, escorting convoy to Gibraltar and Malta, and employed in the Adriatic. Between Otranto and Ancona he saw much boat-service; and in May, 1812, although exposed to a heavy fire, which killed a Master’s Mate, Mr. Donaldson, and the Coxswain, he succeeded in bringing out several vessels from the island of Paxo, near Corfu. On 11 June, 1813, Mr. Ralph (he had passed his examination in the preceding Sept.) was nominated acting First-Lieutenant of the Kite sloop, Capts. Geo. Canning and Rowland Mainwaring, stationed for the protection of British trade in the Archipelago; where, in command of the boats, he retook the Trebisond armed brig of 6 guns. In Dec. 1813, three months after he had rejoined Capt. Clavell as Midshipman on board the Orlando, he was placed, again with the rank of Acting-Lieutenant, in command of the Quail schooner, of 6 guns; in the boats of which vessel he cut out from the island of Zea a French boat with British property on board. Between April and Sept. 1814 Mr. Ralph was borne as a Supernumerary, for a passage home, on the books of the Trident 64, Unité 36, and Weasel 18, Capts. Rich. Budd Vincent, Edwin Henry Chamberlayne, and Hon. Fred. Noel. In Nov. of the same year he became Admiralty Midshipman of the Queen 74, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Chas. Vinicombe Penrose, under whom he conveyed King Ferdinand from Palermo to Naples. He was next, in June, 1815, received by Lord Exmouth on board the Boyne 98, employed in supporting the Royalist cause along the southern coast of France; and, on 16 Jan. 1816, he was a third time ordered to act as Lieutenant in the Sparrowhawk sloop, Capt. Fred. Wm. Burgoyne. On the return of the latter vessel to England in June, 1816, with the despatches announcing the liberation of the Christian slaves in bondage at Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli, Mr. Ralph, who had been officially advanced to his present rank by a commission bearing date 18 March, 1815, was placed on half-pay. His succeeding appointments were – 21 Oct. 1818, as First, to the Florida 24, Capt. Chas. Sibthorpe John Hawtayne, employed in superintending the Revenue-cruizers in the North Sea – 29 Dec. following, to the Nautilus 18, Capt. Isham Fleming Chapman, fitting for the St. Helena station, whence he invalided in July, 1819 – 19 March, 1822, to the Semaphore at Bannicle Hill, near Godalming, Surrey – in April, 1826, to the post of Assistant-Superintendent of Quarantine at Milford Haven, where he remained until the establishment was reduced in April, 1828 – 10 Oct. 1829, to the Royal Naval College at Portsmouth – and, 3 May, 1832, to the Coast Guard. While in that service, in which he continued until 1 Feb. 1843, he frequently distinguished himself. At first he was stationed at Hastings, where, on the night of 17 March, 1833, be prevented the landing of an 8-oared cutter, and pursued a party of armed smugglers, who had endeavoured to succour the attempt, three miles into the country. To those who were actually engaged in the affray a reward of 100l. was given, and Lieut. Ralph himself was strongly recommended at head-quarters. The plan of following the marauders inland, adopted for the first time by him, was afterwards brought into general practice and led to the suppression of smuggling on that part of the coast. Owing to a forced attempt made to accomplish a landing at Jury Gap in Nov. 1833, Lieut. Ralph proceeded from Rye with 8 men for the purpose of aiding the Coast Guard at that station. He subsequently, at different times, effected a large number of seizures, often under perilous circumstances. During a night-gale in the month of Oct. 1835, when no pilot could be found to venture out, he proceeded through a heavy sea in a 4-oared boat to the assistance of a French vessel in distress, the Charles of Cherbourg; and on the night of 28 Jan. 1843, animated by the same intrepid spirit of humanity, he hastened to relieve the Arundel cutter, from London, bound to Hong Kong, on shore off Winchelsea beach. The whole of the passengers were landed by him in safety; and for his praiseworthy conduct he had the gratification of receiving the approval of the Admiralty. Altogether Lieut. Ralph has afforded the benefit of his exertions to four wrecked vessels, three times at Hastings and once in Dundrum Bay, co. Down; he has twice acted as an Inspecting Commander of the Newcastle district, from July to Sept. 1841 and from July to Sept. 1842; and has three times received the thanks of the Comptroller-General, as likewise the thanks of the Royal Humane Society, the Shipwreck Institution, and the Lords of the Admiralty. In Feb. 1843, as above mentioned, he left the Coast Guard, being unable to perform his duties from the effects of injuries he had received in the right leg while in pursuit of the smugglers 17 March, 1833. He has since been unemployed.