A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Stopford, Edward
STOPFORD. (Commander, 1841.)
Edward Stopford was born 20 Aug. 1809. He is a younger brother of Capt. Rich. Henry Stopford, R.N.
This officer entered the Royal Naval College 6 Feb. 1823; and embarked, in Feb.- 1825, as Midshipman, on board the Boadicea 46, bearing the broad pendant of Commodore Sir Jas. Brisbane in the East Indies, where he took part in the operations connected with the war in Ava. In Dec. 1826 he removed to the Warspite 74, Capt. Hon. Rich. Saunders Dundas; and after circumnavigating the globe in that ship (the first of her class that ever did so), he was received, in Aug. 1827, on board the Isis 50, bearing the broad pendant in the Mediterranean of Commodore Sir Thos. Staines; under whom we find him, 31 Jan. 1828, contributing to the capture of the piratical island of Carabusa, and to the destruction there of a large number of brigs, schooners, and other craft. In 1829 he joined the Raleigh 18, Capt. Sir Wm. Dickson, also in the Mediterranean; and towards the close of the same year, having passed his examination in the preceding Feb., he was appointed Mate of the Winchester 52, fitting for the flag of Sir Edw. Griffith Colpoys, Commander-in-Chief in North America and the West Indies. He served next, until the receipt of his first commission, bearing date 12 Dec. 1831, as Acting-Lieutenant in the Mersey 26, Capt. Geo. Wm. Conway Courtenay, Pickle schooner (commanded by himself and employed in the suppression of piracy and the slave-trade), and Sparrowhawk 18, Capt. Thos. Metcalfe Currie (acting), all on the station last named; and he was afterwards appointed, in the Mediterranean – 30 Dec. 1833 and 17 March, 1837, to the Caledonia 120 and Princess Charlotte 104, flag-ships of Sir Josias Rowley and Sir Robt. Stopford – 20 Feb. 1838, to the command of the Confiance steamer, in which vessel he served on the coast of Syria – and 11 May, 1841, again to the Princess Charlotte, as Flag-Lieutenant to Sir R. Stopford. On the paying off of the latter ship he was advanced, 20 July, 1841, to the rank of Commander. He has not been since afloat.
Commander Stopford married, at Malta, 6 Aug. 1840, Julia Maria, eldest daughter of the late Capt. Wm. Wilbraham, R.N. (1809), by whom he has issue.