A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Ramshay, George Rodney
RAMSHAY. (Retired Commander, 1844. f-p., 16; h-p., 33.)
George Rodney Ramshay was born 7 May, 1782.
This officer entered the Navy, 29 May, 1798, as L.M., on board the Northumberland 74, Capt. Geo. Martin, in which ship he served, while holding the ratings of Midshipman and Master’s Mate, at the blockade of Malta and in the operations of 1801 in Egypt. In July of the latter year he was precipitated accidentally into the coal-hold, a distance of 18 or 19 feet, and, a wine-pipe falling on him, his head was cut and his right ankle flattened. Owing to this misadventure he was for three or four weeks on the doctor’s list. On leaving the Northumberland, he joined, in Sept. 1802, the Leda 38, Capt. Robt. Honyman, attached to the force in the North Sea. In July, 1803, he was again placed under the orders of Capt. Martin, on board the Colossus 74, bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Collingwood in the Channel; where, in the course of 1804, he followed Capt. Martin into the Glory and Barfleur 98’s. On 1 March, 1804, having ascended into the rigging of the Colossus for the purpose of assisting the crew, he again fell, injured the small of his back, and fractured his skull. He was unable to speak, in consequence, for nine days, and for 45 was incapable of performing his duty. On 26 Jan. 1805 he became Acting-Lieutenant of the Eugénie 16, Capt. Chas. Webb; on 18 Nov. following, Sub-Lieutenant of the Trompeuse 18, Capt. Wm. Brooking Dolling; and on 29 Aug. 1807, full Lieutenant of his old ship, the Colossus, then commanded, in the Mediterranean, by Capt. Jas. Nicoll Morris. The Eugénie took out Mungo Park, the traveller, to the coast of Guinea, and proceeded with him 270 miles up the Gambia; the Trompeuse was stationed off Boulogne. In April, 1808, Mr. Ramshay rejoined his patron, at that time Rear-Admiral Martin, on board the Canopus 80, in which ship, bearing the flag afterwards of Rear-Admiral Chas. Boyles, he continued until Feb. 1812 to serve in the Mediterranean; on which station we find him, from the following July until July, 1814, eimployed in the Prince of Wales 98, Capt. John Erskine Douglas. He accepted his present rank 11 Jan. 1844.
The effects of the injuries sustained by Commander Ramshay in the Colossus continue to this day. He married, 21 Dec. 1822, and has issue seven children.