A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Wolrige, Charles
WOLRIGE. (Lieut., 1808. f-p., 17; h-p., 31.)
Charles Wolrige is brother of the late Capt. Thos. and the present Capt. Wm. Wolrige, R.N.
This officer entered the Navy, in Oct. 1799, as Sec.-cl. Vol., on board the Cambridge 74, guardship at Plymouth, Capts. Rich. Boger and John Wickey. From June, 1800, until May, 1802, he served as Fst.-cl. Vol. on board the Nymphe frigate, Capts. Percy Fraser and Stair Douglas, on the Channel station, where he was received, in June, 1803, on board the Minotaur 74, Capt. Chas. John Moore Mansfield. He served subsequently as Midshipman at the blockade of Cadiz, fought in that capacity at the battle of Trafalgar, and united as Master’s Mate in the attack upon Copenhagen in Aug. and Sept. 1807. In Oct. of the latter year he was nominated Acting-Lieutenant, in the North Sea, of the Snake sloop, Capt. Thos. Young, to which vessel he was confirmed 5 Jan. 1808. He served subsequently, from Nov. 1809 until Feb. 1812, in the Quebec 32, Capts. Hon. Geo. Poulett and Chas. Sibthorpe John Hawtayne, also in the North Sea; and from Aug. 1812 until July, 1816, in tho Stag and Spartan frigates, commanded, in the Channel, at the Cape of Good Hope, and in the Mediterranean, by Capt. Phipps Hornby. On 3 Aug. 1811, being then in the Quebec, he assisted in the boats of that ship and of a squadron, 10 in number, carrying 116 men, under the command of Lieut. Sam. Blyth, at the cutting-out, from within the island of Nordeney, near the Texel, of four Danish gun-vessels, each armed with 1 long 12 and 2 long 6 or 8 pounders, and 25 men, including 5 soldiers, and commanded by a Lieutenant-de-Vaisseau of the French navy – an exploit which was not accomplished until the enemy had sustained a loss of 4 men lulled and 12 wounded, and the British, after an exposure to a fire of grape and canister, and a hard struggle, of 2 killed and 9 wounded. Independently of 19 persons who were killed and wounded in the early part of the contest by an accidental explosion on board one of the gun-boats.[1] For his conduct on this occasion Mr. Wolrige was presented with the sword of one of the French Commanders. From 1831 until 1833 he was employed as an Agent for Transports Afloat. Agent – J. Hinxman.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1811, p. 1660.