A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Sandom, Robert Maccure
SANDOM. (Lieut., 1843. f-p., 14; h-p., 3.)
Robert Maccure Sandom was born 30 Dec. 1814. He is nephew of Capt. Williams Sandom, R.N.
This officer entered the Navy, 3 March, 1830, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Galatea 42, Capt. Chas. Napier, under whom he served in the Channel, and was present, as Midshipman, during the attack made by Donna Maria’s troops on the islands of St. Michael’s, Fayal, &c. Quitting the Galatea in Jan. 1832, he next, in Oct. of the same year, joined the Malabar 74, Capts. Hon. Josceline Percy and Henry Shovell Marsham, employed at first in the Channel and afterwards in the Mediterranean, whence, in July, 1834, he returned to England. In the following Dec. he was received on board the Racer 16, Capt. Jas. Hope, in which vessel we find him assisting at the capture, 8 March 1836, of the Vigilante slaver, and cruizing for the protection of the fisheries at Newfoundland and on the coast of Labrador. He invalided home from the West Indies on board the Thunder surveying-vessel, Capt. Rich. Owen, in the early part of 1837 and did not again go afloat until March, 1838. He then, having passed his examination in the preceding July, became Mate of the Hastings 72, Capt. Fras. Erskine Loch, and in the following month sailed with the Earl of Durham for Quebec. On his arrival he removed to the Niagara 20, commanded on the lakes of Canada by his uncle, Capt. Sandom. During the first 18 months that he was there employed he suffered much from fever and ague. On I April, 1840, he was intrusted with the charge of the Experiment steam-tender; and on 12 July in the same year he assumed, per order of his Captain, the rank of Lieutenant, in which he continued to act until 9 June, 1841. In Feb. 1842, having had the misfortune to shoot off the forefinger and thumb of his right hand, he was under the necessity of invaliding. He went back, however, to the Niagara in the ensuing July, and continued in that vessel until transferred, 1 July, 1843, to the above-named Experiment, commanded at the time by Lieut. Boxer. His appointments since his promotion to the rank of Lieutenant, which took place 13 Oct. 1843, have been – 17 May, 1844, to the Excellent gunnery-ship at Portsmouth, Capt. Sir Thos. Hastings – 8 July, 1845, to the Vanguard 80, Capt. Geo. Wickens Willes, on the Portsmouth station – 17 Dec. 1845, again to the Excellent, Capt. Henry Ducie Chads – 16 March, 1846, to the Raleigh 50, Commodore Sir Thos. Herbert, fitting for the south-east coast of America, whence he returned about July, 1847 – and, 15 June, 1848, as First, to the Helena 16, Capt. Geo. Woodberry Smith, fitting at Portsmouth.