A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Sparshott, Edward
SPARSHOTT, K.H. (Captain, 1830. f-p., 29; h-p., 17.)
Edward Sparshott is brother of Commander Sam. Sparshott, R.N.
This officer entered the Navy, 23 July, 1801, as Midshipman, on borad the Beaver sloop, Capt. Chas. Bassett Jones, stationed on the north coast of Ireland, where he continued until Sept. 1802. He served next, from Jan. 1803 until March, 1805, in the Pigmy cutter, Lieut.-Commanders Martin White and Sam. Burgess, on the Guernsey station; and from the latter date until Dec. 1807 in the Hazard sloop, Capt. R. J. Neve, and Niobe 40, Capts. Matthew Henry Scott and John Wentworth Loring. While cruizing with Capt. Loring off L’Orient he assisted at the capture, 28 March, 1806, of Le Néarque corvette of 16 guns and 97 men, in company at the time with three French frigates. On leaving the Niobe he joined the Centaur 74, bearing the flag of Sir Sam. Hood; under whom we find him, in the course of the same month (Dec. 1807) present at the surrender of Madeira. On proceeding, afterwards, to the Baltic, he was there, 16 July, 1808, placed in command, with the rank of Acting-Lieutenant, of the Baltic prize-cutter of 14 guns; for his zeal and activity in which vessel in effecting the capture of as many as 21 sail of merchantmen, he was officially promoted 28 April 1809. His succeeding appointments were – 12 May 1809, for two years, to his former ship the Niobe Capts. Loring and Wm. Augustus Montagu, employed on the Home, Lisbon, and Cadiz stations – 8 July, 1814, to the Forester 18, Capt. Wm. Hendry at Newfoundland – 15 June, 1815, for a passage home, to the Warrior 74, Capt. John Tremayne Rodd – 15 Oct. following and 28 Oct. 1816, to the Myrmidon 20, Capt. Robt. Gambier, and Tagus 38, Capt. Jas. Whitley Deans Dundas, both in the Mediterranean – 26 Aug. 1818, to the Rochfort 80, flag-ship of Sir Thos. Fras. Fremantle and Sir Graham Moore on the same station – 11 Jan. 1820, to the Révolutionnaire 46, Capt. Hon. Fleetwood Broughton Reynolds Pellew – and 15 April, 1820, again to the Rochfort. He assisted in the Niobe at the capture, 20 Oct. 1810, of L’Hirondelle privateer of 4 guns and 30 men; took part, in the following Nov., in a gallant attack made, in company with the Diana 38, upon the French 40-gun frigates Amazone and Eliza, who were driven under the batteries of La Hogue, where the latter was ultimately burnt; aided in taking, 4 March, 1811, Le Loup Marin privateer of 16 guns and 64 men; and witnessed, at the close of the same month, the self-destruction, near Cape Barfleur, of the above-named Amazone. While serving as Second-Lieutenant in the Warrior he experienced a furious hurricane, which dismasted that ship, filled her hold with 11 feet water, and nearly sunk her. In endeavouring on the occasion to clear her of one of a convoy which had run on board of her, he was washed into the sea; but his exertions nevertheless materially contributed to extricate her from her critical situation. As First-Lieutenant of the Forester, Myrmidon, Tagus, and Rochfort, Mr. Sparshott acquired much professional reputation and succeeded by his eminent good qualities in securing the friendship and esteem of his superiors. He attained the rank of Commander 29 Jan. 1821; was appointed, in 1824, to the Coast Guard; served as Second-Captain of the Prince Regent 120, flag-ship of Hon. Sir Henry Blackwood at Chatham, from 28 Aug. 1828 until posted, 22 July, 1830; and from 4 June, 1834, until paid off in June, 1838, commanded the Winchester 52, as Flag-Captain to Hon. Sir Thos. Bladen Capel In the East Indies. The latter appointment he obtained at the recommendation of William IV. In 1837 he was sent with a body of troops and two steamers and a corvette of the Indian Navy under his orders, to suppress an insurrection in the province of Canara; and so prompt and successful were his arrangements that he received the written thanks of the Governors in Council of Madras and Bombay, and the fullest approbation of his Commander-in-Chief. He was nominated a K.H. 19 April, 1831; and admitted to the out-pension of Greenwich Hospital 4 Nov. 1846.
Capt. Sparshott is a Knight of the Red Eagle of Prussia. Agents – Messrs. Ommanney.