Royal Naval Biography/Chambers, Samuel
SAMUEL CHAMBERS, Esq.
[Post-Captain of 1812.]
Second son of the late Rev. Charles Chambers, rector of South Kilworth, Leicestershire, and a magistrate of that county.
This officer was born May 25, 1782; and he appears to have entered the navy in Aug. 1794, as a midshipman, on board the Orion, third rate. Captain John T. Duckworth, with whom he subsequently proceeded to the Jamaica station, in the Leviathan 74, which ship formed part of the squadron under Rear-Admiral William Parker, and sustained a loss of 5 men killed and 12 wounded, at the unsuccessful attack upon Leogane, St. Domingo, Mar. 22, 1796.
In July, 1798, Mr. Chambers was appointed acting Lieutenant of the Seahorse frigate, Captain Edward James Foote, on the Mediterranean station. While serving under that officer, he was very actively employed, and on one occasion wounded, in a boat affair, on the coast of Italy[1]. We next find him accompanying Rear-Admiral Duckworth, in the Leviathan, to the Leeward Islands, where he was promoted into the Diana 38, Captain John Poo Beresford, in July, 1800.
After a service of three years and six months, under Captains Beresford and T. J. Maling, the greater part thereof as first Lieutenant, Mr. Chambers left the Diana, and again joined his early patron, by whom he was advanced to the rank of Commander, in the Port Mahon brig, at Jamaica, June 6, 1804.
In the course of the ensuing three years. Captain Chambers captured, recaptured, and destroyed, at least fifty vessels; among which were El Galgo Spanish packet, the Aranzaza letter of marque, and El Courier privateer. He also chased the San Josef armed brig into the intricate harbour of Banes, Cuba, from whence she was cut out in a most gallant manner by his boats, under the command of Lieutenant John Marshall[2].
In 1808, being then on the Channel station, the Port Mahon captured two French privateers – le Furet, of 16 guns and 47 men; and le General Paris, of 3 guns and 38 men.
Captain Chambers was next appointed to the Arachne brig, in which he once more proceeded to the West Indies, and continued until his promotion to post rank, Aug. 12, 1812, His subsequent appointments were, Sept. 5, 1814, to the Duncan 74, bearing the flag of Sir John P. Beresford, and intended for the conveyance of the royal family of Portugal from Brazil to Lisbon; Jan. 15, 1816, to the Dee 24, fitting for the Halifax station; Nov. 14, 1821, to the Dover 28, flag-ship of the above officer during his command at Leith; and July 27, 1825, to the Druid 46, in which frigate the celebrated General Bolivar was conveyed from la Guiara to Carthagena in 1827.
Captain Chambers married, while commanding the Port Mahon, Susan Matilda, daughter of William Wylly, Esq. H.M. Attorney General at the Bahamas, and was left a widower, with three children, in 1813. His eldest brother is a Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford.
Agents.– Messrs. Atkins and Son.
- ↑ See Vol. I. Part II. pp. 560–566.
- ↑ Not at all related to the author of this work.