A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Yonge, Edmund
YONGE. (Captain, 1841. f-p., 20; h-p., 19.)
Edmund Yonge is youngest son of the late Rev. Jas. Yonge, of Puslinch, Rector of Newton Ferrars; and brother-in-law of Lord Seaton, G.C.B.
This officer entered the Navy, 12 Aug. 1808, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Phoenix 36, Capt. Zachary Mudge, lying at Plymouth. In the following Oct. he removed to the Amazon 38, Capt. Wm. Parker; and in Feb. 1812 he joined the Armide 38, Capt. Rich. Dalling Dunn. In the two latter frigates, of which he was the greater part of the time Midshipman, he assisted at the capture of several privateers and other vessels, afforded support to the patriot cause on the north coast of Spain, and was engaged in occasional skirmishes with the enemy’s batteries while watching the harbours of Brest and L’Orient. In Oct. 1812 he followed Capt. Dunn into the Dublin 74, in which ship, commanded next by Capt. Thos. Elphinstone, we find him for nearly two years employed among the Western Islands and in the Channel. At the end of that period he joined in succession, as a Supernumerary-Midshipman, the Salvador del Mundo, Impregnable, and St. George, commanded at Plymouth by Capts. Jas. Nash and Robt. Hall. He also served for a short time on board the York 74, Capt. Alex. Wilmot Schomberg. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant 6 March, 1815; and was subsequently appointed – 16 Aug. 1815, to the Tagus 36, Capt. Jas. Whitley Deans Dundas, fitting for the Mediterranean, whence he invalided in Juljs 1818 – 4 April, 1824, to the Brittania 120, flag-ship of Sir Jas. Saumarez at Plymouth – 26 Feb. 1826, as Senior, to the Success 28, Capt. Jas. Stirling, whom he accompanied to the East Indies – 26 Dec. following, as Acting-Captain, to the Volage 28, in which ship he proceeded from Sydney to South America – 14 March, 1827, for a passage home, to the Blanche 46, Capt. Wm. Bowen Mends – 15 Nov. in the same year, to the Satellite 18, Capt. John Milligen Laws, with whom he returned to India – and,. 5 March, 1828, again, as before, to the Success, Capts. John Fitzgerald Studdert and Wm. Clarke Jervoise. On 28 Nov. 1829 the Success grounded on a reef off the south end of Pulo-Carnac, Western Australia; five days elapsed before she could be got off; and she was then, by the unparalleled efforts of her officers and crew, warped a distance of seven miles into Cockburn Sound, where she was hove down, keel out. So serious had been the injuries she had sustained, and so slender were the resources at hand, that it took four months to render her fit for sea. After reporting the circumstances connected with this event, Capt. Jervoise, in a letter addressed to the Commander-in-Chief, expresses himself thus:– “I trust. Sir, I may be permitted to avail myself of this occasion to recommend to your notice Mr. Yonge, the Senior Lieutenant of this ship, whose conduct I cannot too strongly appreciate or admire for his ability and unremitting attentions, and whose great assistance and exertions in his promptness to second my efforts exceed any encomiums I could bestow. Much of this arduous service naturally devolved on this valuable officer, who is of some standing, and well known to many of the first officers in the service, whose esteem he possesses.” As a reward for his conduct, Mr. Yonge was promoted to the rank of Commander by a commission bearing date 10 Feb. 1830. He did not, however, leave the Success until 1 March, 1831. In Dec. 1833, having been appointed Second-Captain of the Melville 74, bearing the flag of Sir John Gore in the East Indies, he was ordered a passage to that station in the Andromache 28, Capt. Henry Ducie Chads; but he was not afforded an opportunity of joining the Melville until Nov. 1834. He was in consequence on board the Andromache when, in company with the Imogene, she forced the passage of the Boca Tigris, in China, 7 and 9 Sept. in the latter year. He was paid off from the Melville in July, 1835; and was afterwards, from 17 Nov. 1840 until 26 Jan. 1842, employed with his former Captain (now Sir Jas.), Stirling, in the Indus 78, on the Mediterranean and Lisbon stations. He has since been on half-pay. His Post-commission bears date 23 Nov. 1841.
Capt. Yonge married, in 1835, Jane Lee, second daughter of John R. Bennet, Esq., of Standwell, Totnes, co. Devon, by whom he has issue. Agents – Hallett and Robinson.