A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Royer, Charles
ROYER. (Retired Commander, 1838. f-p., 17; h-p., 36.)
Charles Royer entered the Navy, in the spring of 1794, as A.B., on board the Swiftsure 74, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Wm. Parker in the West Indies. He was afterwards, while serving in the same ship under Capt. Benj. Hallowell, most actively employed in the Mediterranean, where he fought at the battle of the Nile, took part as Midshipman in many important operations on the coast of Italy, and was present, 24 June, 1801, in a desperate engagement of more than an hour’s duration, which reduced the Swiftsure to a wreck and rendered her a prize to a French squadron of four sail of the line under Rear-Admiral Ganteaume. Joining next, as Master’s Mate, the Camelion brig, Capt. Thos. Staines, he assisted in the boats of that ship at the capture of several armed feluccas near Tarragona. He served subsequently in the Kent 74 and Victory 100, flag-ships of Sir Rich. Bickerton and Lord Nelson, both in the Mediterranean; where he was made Lieutenant, 19 Nov. 1804, into the Madras 54, Capt. Chas. Marsh Schomberg, and where, from Aug. 1805 until paid off in Aug. 1809, he served in the Ambuscade 32, Capt. Wm. D’Urban. His last appointment was, in May, 1810, to the Astraea of 42 guns and 271 men, commanded by his former Captain, Schomberg; under whom, while cruizing, 20 May, 1811, off Madagascar, in company with the Phoebe and Galatea frigates, similar in force to the Astraea, and 18-gun brig Racehorse, he assisted after a long and warmly-contested action with the French 40-gun frigates Rénommée, Clorinde and Néréide and a loss to the Astraea of 2 killed and 16 wounded, at the capture of the Rénommée. On the surrender of the latter ship he was sent in a sinking boat, accompanied by Lieut. John Drury, R.M., and 5 seamen, to take possession of her. His conduct while on board, we are officially informed, reflected much credit upon him.[1] He left the Astraea in Oct. 1811, and accepted his present rank 22 Feb. 1838.
For injuries sustained in the Ambuscade in 1806, Commander Royer was presented with a gratuity from the Patriotic Fund, and awarded, 4 Nov. 1809, a pension of 45l. 12s. per annum. He is Harbour-Master at Port Louis, Mauritius. Agents – Goode and Lawrence.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1811, p. 2190, where he is in error named Rogers.