Royal Naval Biography/Aylmer, Frederick
HON. FREDERICK WILLIAM AYLMER.
A Companion of the Most Honorable Military Order of the Bath; and a Knight Commander of the Neapolitan Order of St. Ferdinand and of Merit.
[Post-Captain of 1805.]
This officer is the third son of Henry, fourth Lord Aylmer, by Catharine, second sister of Charles, Earl Whitworth, G.C.B.
He was born Oct. 12, 1777; and first went to sea in the Syren of 32 guns, commanded by the late Vice-Admiral John Manley, in which frigate H.R.H. the Duke of York embarked for Holland, at the commencement of the French revolutionary war.
Mr. Aylmer served as a Lieutenant on board the Swiftsure 74, in the memorable battle of Aug. 1, 1798; and was frequently employed on boat service during the subsequent operations in the neighbourhood of Aboukir, and on the coast of Italy[1]. His name is frequently mentioned by the Rev. Cooper Willyams, and it is from that gentleman’s publication that we make the following extract:–
“When the Swiftsure appeared off Civita Vecchia, a French officer of distinction came on board with a flag of truce; hut nothing was then decided upon. At another time, when some Neapolitan vessels, supposing the place was evacuated by the French, were making towards it, the French armed-boats, and gun-vessels of a large size, pushed out to bring them in; but the boats of the Swiftsure were sent to their assistance, and soon made the enemy retire, pursuing them with great spirit till under the guns of their own batteries, and nearly capturing them. Lieutenant Alymer, in the launch, had a narrow escape; a shot from the shore, which killed a man who was in the act of taking aim, having struck the powderhorn from his hand. Captain Hallowell had already entered into a negociation with the enemy, and paved the way for the surrender of the place, when he was recalled to attend the Admiral at Palermo.”
Lieutenant Aylmer received the Turkish gold medal, at the close of the Egyptian campaign; and obtained the rank of Commander in 1802; previous to which he had acted as such in the Fury bomb, during the absence of Captain Richard Curry, whom we have already described as the bearer of Lord Keith’s dispatches relative to the surrender of Grand Cairo, June 26, 1801[2].
We subsequently find Captain Aylmer commanding in succession the Delight and Wasp, sloops of war; and in July, 1803, capturing a French privateer, on the Mediterranean station. From the latter vessel he was posted into the Glory, of 98 guns, bearing the flag of Sir John Orde; but he appears to have been soon afterwards superseded, in consequence of that second rate being required for the flag of Rear-Admiral Domett, who had selected an old shipmate to command her. His post commission bears date May 18, 1805.
After quitting the Glory, we lose sight of Captain Aylmer till July 1809, when he assumed the command of the Narcissus, a 32-gun frigate, employed on Channel service. Early in the following year he captured the French privateers Duguay Trouin, of 14 guns and 75 men; and Aimable Josephine, of 14 guns and 105 men. A merchant brig, which had been taken by the former, was also recaptured by him.
The result of an expedition, undertaken by the late Commodore Sir Robert Mends, in conjunction with the Spanish Brigadier-General Porlier, in the summer of 1810, has already been stated at p. 272, et seq. The following is the detail, we there promised, of the proceedings of the naval brigade, commanded by Captain Aylmer.
Early on the 5th of July, 500 Spanish patriots, and a detachment of seamen and marines from the squadron, were landed on the beach to the westward of Santona, and the allied commanders immediately pushed forward to the town, which they entered without loss, the French troops having retired across the river. The British advanced guard, under Lieutenant Desbrisay R. M., with the Spanish tirailleurs, succeeded in stopping a part of the enemy’s rear guard, killed two, wounded a few more, and took several prisoners. In the course of the day, Brigadier-General Porlier sent off some of his men on the road to St. Andero, and Mr. Hugh Pearson, first Lieutenant of the Arethusa, was detached with a party of seamen to destroy the guns in the forts, which he completely effected. The 6th was spent in examining the ground, as there was reason to expect the enemy would advance in force from St. Andero.
The following morning, Captain Aylmer directed the boats’ carronades to be placed on a hill which commanded the isthmus leading to the town; and the men were at the same time posted along the hedges and vineyards in front of the position, the main body of the Spaniards on a sand-hill to the right, and the English, with the tirailleurs, in the centre and to the left. At about 11 A.M. a firing was heard, and the advanced parties retired, in the most perfect order, closely followed by the enemy. Very shortly after, the French were observed advancing rapidly in three columns, but they were almost immediately checked by the steadiness of the reception they met with, and at length obliged to retire, leaving many killed and wounded on the field.
“The enemy’s force,” says Captain Aylmer, “appeared to consist of between 700 and 800 men, and I have only to regret that they did not advance nearer; for had they done so, I am convinced a most complete and entire destruction of their whole force would have taken place. Brigadier-General Porlier detached his sharp-shooters to harass their rear: they succeeded in killing and wounding several, and making some prisoners. OR the whole I conceive the loss of the French in killed, wounded, and prisoners, amounts to about 150 men. The whole of the guns, &c. in Santona and Laredo are destroyed, consisting of twenty-two 24-pounders, and four 13-inch brass mortars.”
The importance of this service may be inferred from the expressions of gratitude contained in a letter of thanks which the Junta of Gallicia sent to Sir Robert Mends[3], who, when reporting the proceedings of his squadron to Lord Gambier, declared himself much indebted to “the zeal and ability of that excellent officer” (Captain Aylmer), “as well as to Captain Bowles, of the Medusa, who most anxiously solicited to be attached to the brigade, and acted as second in command.”
From this period we have no certain information respecting Captain Aylmer, until the summer of 1815, when we find him conducting an expedition up the Gironde, after an ineffectual attempt to open a communication with General Clausel, commandant at Bourdeaux, the inhabitants of which town, although principally staunch royalists, were still kept in subjection by a considerable body of the ex-imperial troops. The complete success attending Captain Aylmer’s enterprise, will be seen by his official letter to Viscount Keith, dated on board the Pactolus frigate, in the Gironde, July 14, 1815:–
“My Lord, I arrived off this port on the 3d instant, and in compliance with the wishes of General Donnadieu, sent in a flag of truce, with one of his aides-de-camp, for the purpose of communicating with General Clausel, commanding at Bourdeaux; but as two days more elapsed without any answer or news of the aide-de-camp, I sent another flag in to a corvette lying in the river; and I learnt from her commander that he had received the most positive orders from General Clausel not to hold any kind of communication with us. In addition to this we received a proclamation, signed by the General, declaring Bourdeaux and its whole vicinity in a state of siege, and threatening with military execution any who manifested signs of disaffection to his government. The aide-de-camp, it appeared, was detained.
“While this negotiation was attempting, the Hebrus (frigate) arrived with the charge of a small expedition, with arms and supplies for the royalists; and when it became evident that no good could arise out of any attempt to conciliate General Clausel, Captain (Edmund) Palmer made me a very strong representation upon the necessity which he conceived there was for his attempting to enter the Gironde, and open a direct communication with the royalist party. After weighing the circumstances, I thought it my duty to accede to the proposal, and I united the ships for the prosecution of the service. General Donnadieu being anxious to pursue his mission on the coast, I dispatched the Larne with him to Passages.
“On the 11th, the squadron weighed from an outer anchorage we had taken, and formed for the purpose of entering the river; but, as we stood in, the enemy’s corvette was observed to weigh and manoeuvre in the north entrance, while five sail pushed out through the southern passage to sea. Under these circumstances it became necessary for the intercepting these vessels, that the squadron should separate for the time; and consequently the forcing of the river was given up for that day. During the night the squadron united again, after having examined the vessels which had sailed in so suspicious a manner, and which circumstance was developed by the embargo having been that morning discontinued in the river.
“Yesterday the wind being favorable, the squadron again weighed, and formed in a close line for entering the Gironde. The Pactolus led, the Hebrus followed, and the Falmouth (of 20 guns) brought up the rear; the two former had transports in tow. As we proceeded, a person came off, with a message from the people of the town of Royan, saying, that they would not fire at us, provided we did not assail them. We passed on, with the royal colours of France at our mast-head: the tri-coloured flag flew along the batteries, which were all in preparation; but no act of hostility occurred until we reached the heavy battery at Verdun, which opened its fire upon us, and continued it until the ships reached the anchorage. NO injury, however, was sustained, and the squadron did not return a gun, for I was unwilling to disturb the feeling which appeared so generally and so happily to prevail.
“Directly the ships were secured, a communication was sent up, with a flag of truce, to General Clausel, by the Comte de Lasteur, deputed by M. la Duchesse d’Angouleme, and we are in expectation of his answer. In the mean time nothing can wear a more favorable aspect than the face of things in this river. I beg to assure you that every measure shall be adopted, in conjunction with the Baron de Montalembert, to arm and organize the royal party, and establish the power of predominance of his Majesty the King of France, in the vicinity of wherever our means can operate.
“I lose no time in despatching the Falmouth to your Lordship, and Captain Knight will explain our situation, as well as that we are taking every precaution in respect to the defence of the river, in the event of General Clausel sending down any strong force to stifle the spirit of the people. I shall also write to Sir Henry Hotham, and perhaps the Rear-Admiral may strengthen our means here, so that we may fully avail ourselves of such opportunity of pushing the royal cause with vigour and celerity, and of cherishing the excellent disposition with which all here seem inspired. I have just learnt that the enemy evacuated the fort of Verdun last night, and retired with his garrison. We have sent a force on shore to dismantle and destroy the guns, &c. This is the fort which disputed our entrance, and it is a very strong work.
“I have also the pleasure to add, that the propositions of the Baron de Montalembert, and his mission, have hitherto been every where attended with success. The forts and the positions are gradually pulling down their tri-coloured flags, and hoisting that of their legitimate sovereign; and several of them have saluted the squadron upon their hoisting the white flag. While writing this letter, another battery has followed their example, and there now remains only the fort at Meche with the tri-coloured flag.Captain Palmer, who was entrusted with the service, has throughout directed it; and the accident alone of my being the senior officer, induces me to give the account to your lordship.
[errata 1] I have the honor to be, &c.(Signed)“F. W. Aylmer.”
“To Admiral Lord Viscount Keith, &c.”
General Clausel soon after heard of the events at Paris, occasioned by the second abdication of his master; and knowing well the disposition of the inhabitants of the country around him, those of Bourdeaux in particular, he at length entered into negociations with Captain Aylmer and the French King’s officers, which ended in the royal colours being hoisted on the castle of Bourdeaux, and over all the surrounding districts.
Early in 1816, Captain Aylmer was appointed to the Severn of 50 guns, which frigate formed part of Lord Exmouth’s fleet at the memorable attack upon Algiers, on which occasion she is said to have expended nearly 13,000 Ibs. of powder, and 2920 round shot[4]. Her loss consisted of 37 men killed and wounded. A full account of that splendid achievement will be found at p. 225 et seq. of our first volume. For his conduct on that glorious day, Captain Aylmer was nominated a C.B. immediately after the tidings of the victory had been received in England; and the insignia of a K.F.M. was conferred upon him in consequence of his having conveyed to Naples, the whole of the emancipated Italian slaves, and 357,000 dollars, which the Dey of Algiers had been compelled to return to the King of the Two Sicilies. Captain Aylmer is heir-presumptive to his brother Major-General Lord Aylmer, K.C.B., Adjutant-General in Ireland[5].
Agents.– Messrs. Cooke, Halford, and Son.
- ↑ See vol. I. pp. 469–478.; and vol. II. pp. 820–830.
- ↑ See vol. I, p. 468.
- ↑ See p. 273.
- ↑ See “Salamé’s Narrative of the expedition to Algiers,” p. 172.
- ↑ The first Lord Aylmer was a page to the celebrated Duke of Buckingham, and through his persuasion embraced the naval profession. He acted as second to Russell in the battle off Cape la Hogue, and was made a Rear-Admiral in consequence of the valour and good conduct displayed by
- Errata
- ↑ Original: * * * * was amended to
Captain Palmer, who was entrusted with the service, has throughout directed it; and the accident alone of my being the senior officer, induces me to give the account to your lordship.