A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Skipwith, Grey
SKIPWITH. (Commander, 1842.)
Grey Skipwith, born 10 April, 1811, is fourth son of Sir Gray Skipwith, Bart., of Prestwould, co. Lincoln, and of Newbold Hall, co. Warwick, by Harriett, third daughter of Gore Townshend, Esq., of Honington Hall, co. Warwick. One of his brothers, William, is a Captain in the Army; and another, Sidmouth Stowell, a Lieutenant R.N.
This officer entered the Royal Naval College in Jan. 1823; and embarked, 25 Jan. 1825, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Jasper 10, Capt. Chas. Howe Fremantle, stationed in the Channel. He served subsequently in the Mediterranean and at home as Midshipman in the Ariadne 26, Capt. Lord Adolphus FitzClarence, Chanticleer 10, Capt. Maxwell, and Challenger 28 and Pallas 42, both commanded by Lord A. FitzClarence; under whom we find him, from 1830 (in May of which year he passed his examination) until promoted to the rank of Lieutenant 7 March, 1834, employed as Mate in the Royal George yacht and Onyx and Pantaloon tenders. His next appointments were – 16 May, 1834, and 10 May, 1837, to the Childers 16, Capt. Hon. Henry Keppel, and Rodney 92, Capt. Hyde Parker, both in the Mediterranean – 8 Aug. 1839, as First-Lieutenant (after 17 months of half-pay), to the Phoenix steamer, Capt. Robt. Spencer Robinson, on the same station, whence he returned in March, 1840 – and, 5 April, 1841, as Second, to the Cornwallis 72, flag-ship of Sir Wm. Parker in the East Indies. For his services on the coast of China (where he assisted at the taking of Chapoo, Woosung,[1] assisted also at the capture of Shanghae and Chin-Kiang-Foo, and was present at the signing of the treaty of Nanking), he was promoted 23 Dec. 1842, to the rank he now holds.[2] He left the Cornwallis in March, 1843; and, since 2 Dec. 1847, has been in command of the Hydra steam-sloop of 220 horsepower, on the S.E. coast of America.