A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Starmer, Charles
STARMER. (Commander, 1842.)
Charles Starmer entered the Navy, 19 Sept. 1818, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Northumberland 78, Capt. Sir Michael Seymour, lying at Sheerness; and was afterwards employed as Midshipman on the Newfoundland, African, and Home stations, in the Grasshopper 18, Capt. David Buchan, Esk 20, Capt. Wm. Jardine Purchas, and Melville 74, Capt. Henry Hill. In 1829, in the course of which year he passed his examination, he joined the Atholl 28, Capts. Alex. Gordon and Wm. Webb, with whom he again, until Feb. 1832, served on the coast of Africa. He next, in Jan. 1833, joined the Spartiate 76, fitting for the flag of Sir M. Seymour, Commander-in-Chief in South America, whence he returned in Sept. 1835; and on 2 May, 1837, at which period he had been for upwards of 12 months employed in the Lightning steam-vessel on the north coast of Spain, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. His succeeding appointments were – 13 July, 1837, to the Rhadamanthus steamer, Capt. Arthur Wakefleld, in the Mediterranean – 15 May, 1841, as Senior, after seven months of half-pay, to the Pelican 16, Capt. Chas. Geo. Elers Napier, on the East India station – and 20 Jan. 1842, to the Blonde 42, Capt. Thos. Bourchier. Uniting in the latter ship in the operations on the coast of China, he landed, 15 March, 1842, in command of the small-arm men, and assisted with the troops and the rest of the naval brigade in escalading the walls of Tse-kee, and in subsequently driving the enemy from their entrenched position on the heights at the back of the town.[1] On 18 May following he contributed in a similar manner to the capture of Chapoo;[2] on 16 June and 21 July he was present at the attack upon the Woosung batteries and at the storming of Chin-Kiang-Foo; and in the month of Aug. he was off Nanking when the treaty of peace was concluded. He attained his present rank 23 Dec. 1842,[3] but remained in the Blonde until paid off in March, 1843. From 3 July, 1846, until put out of commission in 1848, he commanded the Hecla steam-sloop of 240 horse power in the Mediterranean.