A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Sparshott, Samuel
SPARSHOTT. (Commander, 1818. f-p., 15;[1] h-p., 29.)
Samuel Sparshott is brother of Capt. Edw. Sparshott, R.N.
This officer entered the Navy, 1 May, 1803, as A.B., on board the Prince of Wales 98, Capt. John GifFard; in which ship and in the Ville de Paris 110 and Caledonia 120, he continued employed as Midshipman and Master’s Mate under the flags, on the Home station, of Admirals Sir Robt. Calder, Edw. Thornbrough, Sir Jas. Saumarez, and Lords Gardner and Gambier, until promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, 22 Aug. 1809. He was present, in the Ville de Paris, in the action with the combined fleets of France and Spain off Cape Finisterre 22 July, 1805, and in the Caledonia, as Signal Mate, at the destruction of the French shipping in Basque Roads in April, 1809. His appointments in the capacity of Lieutenant were – 31 Aug. 1809, to the Ganymede 26, Capts. Robt. Carteret, Hassard Stackpoole, Edw. Crofton, Robt. Preston, and John Brett Purvis, employed on the Home, Mediterranean, and West India stations – 26 Dec. 1811 to the Aquilon 32, Capt. Wm. Bowles, stationed at first in the North Sea and Baltic, and next on the coast of South America, whence, in 1814, he returned to England, with the same officer, in the Ceres 32 – 5 Aug. in the latter year, to the Euphrates 36, Capt. R. Preston, in which ship he cruized among the Western Islands – and 22 Sept. and 3 Oct. 1815, to the Menelaus 38 and Amphion 32, both commanded by Capt. Bowles, the latter again in South America. While serving in the Aquilon he commanded the boats of that ship at the destruction of a convoy off the island of Rugen. He acquired the rank of Commander 16 Oct. 1818; and, on 13 Sept. 1826, he was appointed to the Nimrod 18; which vessel, by the breaking of her anchor, drove on the rocks in Holyhead bay and bilged, during a gale from the N.N.W., on the night of 14 Jan. 1827. She was got off; however, by the utmost exertion on the part of her Commander, officers and crew, was placed in a dry dock, and on 3 March following was sold. On 16 May in the same year Commander Sparshott was appointed Deputy Inspector-General of the Coast Guard – a post he still retains. Agents – Messrs. Ommanney.
- ↑ In service afloat.