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A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Wodehouse, Edward Thornton

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2011610A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Wodehouse, Edward ThorntonWilliam Richard O'Byrne

WODEHOUSE. (Capt., 1841. f-p., 15; h-p., 17.)

The Honourable Edward Thornton Wodehouse, born 5 June, 1802, is second son of Lord Wodehouse, by Charlotte Laura, only daughter and heiress of John Norris, Esq., of Wilton Park, co. Norfolk; and brother of Hon. Berkeley Wodehouse, a Major in the Army and Colonel in the Norfolk Militia. He is nephew of the late Hon. Philip Wodehouse, Vice-Admiral of the White;[1] and cousin of Commander Geo. Wodehouse, R.N., and Capt. Geo. Baker, R.N.

This officer entered the Royal Naval College 7 Sept. 1815; and embarked 7 Sept. 1818, as a Volunteer, on board the Liffey 50, Capt. Hon. Henry Duncan; of which ship, stationed in the Channel, he was rated Midshipman in Oct. 1819. In May, 1820, he removed to the Créole 42, bearing the broad pendant of Sir Thos. Masterman Hardy in South America; where he was nominated, 28 Dec. 1822, Acting-Lieutenant of the Blossom 24, Capt. Archibald Maclean. He was confirmed to that ship 24 Feb. 1823; he left her in June, 1824; and he was appointed next – 18 March, 1825, to the Tweed 28, Capt. Fred. Hunn, at the Nore – 10 Aug. 1825, 4 Aug. 1826, and 18 Jan. 1827, to the Warspite 76, Boadicea 46, and Java 52, all commanded by Capt. Wm. Fairbrother Carroll, as flag-ships, in the East Indies, of Rear-Admiral Wm. Hall Gage – and, 12 Nov. 1828, as Senior, to the Ferret 10, Capt. Thos. Hastings, in the Mediterranean. He was promoted to the command of the Ferret 23 July, 1830, and was continued in her until paid off in the early part of 1831. He has not been since afloat. He was advanced to his present rank 23 Nov. 1841.

Capt. Wodehouse married, in Oct. 1838, Diana, only daughter of the late Colonel Thornton, of Falconers’ Hall, Torkshire, by whom he has issue. Agents – Hallett and Robinson.


  1. Vice-Admiral Philip Wodehouse was born 16 July, 1773. He attained the rank of Lieutenant in 1794; was made Commander into the Albacore sloop in 1796; and was posted 23 Dec. in the same year. He served next in the Mignonne frigate, Volage 24, Brilliant 28, Iris 32, and Resistance 36. In 1804 he was appointed to the Harwich district of Sea Fencibles; and in 1805 and 1807 he obtained command of the Intrepid 64, and Cumberland 74. He was wrecked, in the Resistance, near Cape St. Vincent, 31 May, 1803; and he united, in the Cumberland, in the pursuit, which led to the self-destruction, in Oct. 1809, of the French ships of the line Robuste and Lion near Cape Cette. From 1811 until promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral, 12 Aug. 1819, he filled the appointment of Resident Commissioner at Halifax. He became a Vice-Admiral 22 July, 1830, and died 21 Jan. 1838.