208
CODRINGTON.
passengers, were ultimately anchored in safety at Port Mahon after a distressing passage of 38 days. In 1811 Capt. Codrington was invested with the command of a squadron on the east coast of Spain, where, by collecting reinforcements of troops and other means, he strenuously co-operated with the patriots in the defence of Tarragona; and on the fall of that place in June, was night and day employed, with all the warmth of benevolence, in rescuing the unfortunate inhabitants from the ruthless destruction that everywhere assailed them, numbers being brought away in the boats and transports, and gratuitously supplied with whatever clothing and provisions they required.[1] In Jan. 1812 he was further present on shore at the defeat of the French near Villa Succa, where 600 men were taken prisoners, and about the same period he supported the Baron d’Eroles in an attempt to regain Tarragona;[2] after which he successfully carried on a desultory species of warfare that lasted for several months, and was productive of the greatest annoyance and mortification to the enemy. On the night of 26 April, 1812, he again co-operated with the Baron d’Eroles in a manner that caused the mole of Tarragona to be swept of all the vessels and boats that had there sought protection.[3] Capt. Codrington at length returned home in the early part of 1813, bearing with him the good wishes of all with whom he had been in any way connected, and recommended in the strongest manner both by the Spanish government and by Sir Edw. Pellew, the Commander-in-Chief, for the zeal, ability, and judgment which he had on every occasion displayed, and for the signal manner in which he had contributed by his advice and assistance to the various successes of the Catalonian army. He was nominated a Colonel of Marines 4 Dec. following; and sailing soon afterwards for North America with his broad pendant in the Forth 40, was, while there, promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral June, 1814, and appointed, in the Tonnant 80, Captain of the Fleet under Sir Alex. Cochrane. Of the latter officer he received the thanks for the alacrity with which, during the operations connected with the capture of Washington, he conducted the laborious duties of conveying supplies to the army; and also for the counsel and assistance he afforded during the expedition against Baltimore.[4] Hoisting his flag on board the Havannah 36, the Rear-Admiral next took part in the attack on New Orleans,[5] and at the conclusion of hostilities with the United States returned to England with the official announcement of the capture of Fort Bowyer. For his varied services he was created a K.C.B. 2 Jan. 1815; and, assuming the rank of Vice-Admiral 10 July, 1821, was appointed, 1 Nov. 1826, Commander-in-Chief on the Mediterranean station, with his flag in the Asia 84. A treaty being soon afterwards formed between the, courts of St. James’, the Tuileries, and St. Petersburg, having for its object the suppression of hostilities which for several years had raged with deadly animosity between the Ottoman Porte and the inhabitants of the Greek provinces and islands. Sir Edw. Codrington, through a concatenation of circumstances into which our limits forbid us to enter, found it his duty, on 20 Oct. 1827, as Commander-in-Chief of the British, French, and Russian squadrons, to enter the port of Navarin, where lay in battle order a Turco-Egyptian fleet, consisting of 3 sail of the line, 5 double-banked frigates of from 60 to 64 guns each, 15 frigates, 26 corvettes, 11 brigs, and fire-ships, in all 65 sail, carrying 2082 guns. The result of the tremendous conflict which was doomed to follow is well known.[6] It is sufficient for us to record that the victorious fleet, amounting altogether to 11 sail of the line, 9 frigates, and 4 brigs, suffered a loss of 172 men killed and 481 wounded[7] – that promotions and rewards were abundantly distributed among the conquerors – and that the hero of the fight, the gallant Sir Edward, was immediately nominated a G.C.B. by his own Sovereign, and subsequently presented by those of France, Russia, and Greece, with the Grand Cross of St. Louis, the Order of St. George of Russia, and the Gold Cross of the Redeemer of Greece. In consequence, however, of political disunion at home, he was recalled from the Mediterranean in 1828. He afterwards, with his flag in the Caledonia 120, commanded a squadron of observation in the Channel in 1831; and attaining the rank of full Admiral 10 Jan. 1837, was appointed, 22 Nov. 1839; Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth, where the Queen 110, and St. Vincent 120, appear to have been his successive flag-ships. He returned to half-pay at the expiration of his command in Dec. 1842; and since that period has been unemployed.
Sir Edw. Codrington, who, in addition to his other dignities, holds that of a G.C.M.G., and is also a F.R.S., sat in Parliament for Devonport from 1832 until Jan. 1840. He married, 27 Dec. 1802, Miss Jane Hall, of Old Windsor, and by that lady, who died in 1837, had, with other issue, a son, the present Capt. Henry John Codrington, R.N., C.B., and a daughter, now wife of Capt. Sir Thos. Bourchier, R.N., K.C.B. His eldest son, Edward, Midshipman of the Cambrian frigate, Capt. Gawen Wm. Hamilton, was drowned off the island of Hydra, while proceeding thither in the ship’s cutter.
CODRINGTON, C.B., K.S.V., K.L.H., K.R.G. (Captain, 1836. f-p., 17; h-p., 7.)
Henry John Codrington, born 17 Oct. 1808, is son of Admiral Sir Edw. Codrington, G.C.B.
This officer entered the Navy, 21 Feb. 1823, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Apollo, at Portsmouth; joined, 26 July following, the Sybille 46, Capt. Sam. John Brooke Pechell, lying at Deptford; and, on 24 Aug. in the same year, was appointed Midshipman of the Naiad 46, Capt. Hon. Robt. Cavendish Spencer, in which frigate he assisted at the blockade of Algiers in 1824. Having removed, in Oct. 1826, to the Asia 84, bearing the flag of his father, he took part and was severely wounded at the battle of Navarin, 20 Oct. 1827;[8] after which he became attached, in succession, to the Warspite 76, Capt. Wm. Parker, and Madagascar 46, Capt. Hon. Sir R. C. Spencer, and was promoted, 12 June 1829, to a Lieutenancy in the Victory 104, Capt. Hon. Geo. Elliot, at Portsmouth. Until advanced to the rank of Commander, 20 Oct. 1831, Mr. Codrington’s further appointments were – 10 Aug. 1829, to the Prince Regent 120, flag-ship at the Nore of Hon. Sir Henry Blackwood – 22 April, 1830, to the Briton 46, Capt. John Duff Markland, employed on Particular service – and, 9 June, 1831, as Flag-Lieutenant, to the Caledonia 120, flag-ship in the Channel of Sir Edw. Codrington. He subsequently, on 6 June, 1834, obtained command of the Orestes 18, in which sloop he appears to have served on the Mediterranean station until shortly after his elevation to Post rank, 20 Jan. 1836. being next appointed, 12 March, 1838, to the command of the Talbot 28, the subject of this notice returned to the latter station, where, in Nov. 1840, he superintended conjointly with Capt. Edw. Boxer the task of sounding and buoying off the channels leading to the batteries of St. Jean d’Acre, for his ulti-
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1811, p. 1588.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1812, p. 563.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1812, p. 2296.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1814, pp. 1940, 2076.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1815, p. 449.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1827, pp. 2320-4.
- ↑ It was nearly miraculous how Sir Edward Codrington escaped without injury. He was almost the whole time on the poop, which was once or twice cleared during the action, – once in particular, – when there was no person to be seen on it but himself. A musket-ball passed through the sleeve of his coat at the wrist; his watch was smashed by a splinter; a cannon-ball passed through the rolled-up awning under which he was standing, and just cleared his hat; he was twisted round several times, and his coat was torn in several places by splinters.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1827, p. 2324.
