A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Stoddart, Pringle
STODDART. (Rear-Admiral of the White, 1841. f-p., 17; h-p., 47.)
Pringle Stoddart was born 23 May, 1768, and died 29 Jan. 1848, at 10, Bellevue Crescent, Edinburgh. This officer (who had been in the Hon.E.I.Co.’s service) entered the Navy, 29 April, 1783, as Midshipman, on board the Exeter 64, Capt. John Sam. Smith, under whom he took part, 20 June following, in;Sir Edw. Hughes’ action with M. de Suffrein off Cuddalore. In Aug. 1784, three months after he had arrived in England in the Africa 64, Capt. Robt. M‘Douall, he joined the Venus frigate, Capt. Chas. Hudson, on the Irish station, where he remained until paid off in the summer of 1786. He then entered the Russian navy in the capacity of Lieutenant; and, continuing in that service for a period of rather more than four years, was present in 1788-9 in two actions with the Turkish fleet and in a desperate battle fought, 9 July, 17S0, between the Russians and Swedes, the latter of whom gained a complete victory. On the first and last occasions Mr. Stoddart was wounded. In the course of 1791, having returned to England, he was received as Midshipman on board the Formidable 98, bearing the flag of Hon. John Leveson Gower, and Brunswick 74, Capt. Sir Roger Curtis. Towards the close of the same year he again joined the E.I.Co.’s service. On the renewal, however, of the war in 1793 he obtained the berth of Master’s Mate on board the Andromache 32, Capt. Theophilus Jones; and in her he made a voyage to the coast of America. He joined next the Valiant 74, Capts. Thos. Pringle and Christopher Parker (part of Lord Howe’s fleet in the action of 1 June, 1794), and Queen Charlotte 100, Capt. Sir Andrew Snape Douglas. In the latter ship, of which he was ultimately nominated Acting-Lieutenant, he shared in Lord Bridport’s rencontre with the French fleet off Ile de Groix 23 June, 1795. He was confirmed a Lieutenant 16 April, 1796; and was afterwards appointed in succession – in April and Aug. of the same year, to the Trident 64, Capt. Edw. Oliver Oshorn, and Tremendous 74, bearing the flag of Rear-Admirals Thos. Pringle and Sir Hugh Cloberry Christian, both at the Cape of Good Hope – 23 Jan. 1799, for a passage home, to the Sphynx 20, Capt. Lord Augustus FitzRoy – 13 July following, to the Trusty 50, Capt. Bowen – and 2 June, 1800, 15 March, 1804, and 4 July, 1805, to the Kent 74, Royal Sovereign 100, and Queen 98, flag-ships of Sir Rich. Bickerton in the Mediterranean. In the Tremendous he witnessed the capture of the Dutch squadron in Saldanha Bay 17 Aug. 1796; in the Trusty he accompanied the expedition to the Helder in 1799; and in the Kent he assisted, in 1801, in expelling the French from Egypt; where he acquired the “most unequivocal praise of Sir Ralph Abercromby” for his exertions while serving with the army on the memorable 8 March, and was highly commended by Sir Wm. Sidney Smith for his zealous and gallant conduct in the battles of the 13th and 21st. In acknowledgment of his efforts during the campaign he was presented with a gold medal by the Turkish Government. While with Sir H. C. Christian in the Tremendous Mr. Stoddart filled the post of First-Lieutenant, as he also did for a considerable time under Sir R. Bickerton. He left the Queen 30 Sept. 1805; and on 22 Jan. 1806 he was made Commander into the Cruizer 18. In that vessel he made prize, 6 and 26 Jan. 1807, of Le Jena and Le Brave privateers, of 16 guns each; retook two merchant- brigs; and liberated the crews of three other vessels which had fallen into the hands of the enemy. He also united in the attack upon Copenhagen; during the siege of which place he was stationed on shore, was several times engaged with the Danes, and on one occasion in particular, 22 Aug. 1807, obtained, in common with the others employed, the praise of Admiral Gambier for the bravery and energy he displayed in a long and heavy contest with a powerful flotilla. He attained Post-rank 13 Oct. 1807; was appointed, 22 Sept. 1810, to the command pro tem., which he retained for seven weeks, of the Pallas frigate on the coast of Norway (where he captured with his boats two Danish privateers, one mounting 6, the other 5 guns); and on 23 Nov. 1841 was advanced to Flag-rank.
Rear-Admiral Stoddart married, 20 Nov. 1807, Miss Frances Sprot, niece of Mark Sprot, Esq., of King’s Road, Bedford Row; by whom he has left issue seven children. His third son, James, is a Commander R.N.