Royal Naval Biography/Gambier, Robert Fitzgerald
ROBERT FITZGERALD GAMBIER, Esq.
[Commander.]
Son of Sir James Gambier, formerly H.M. consul-general in Portugal; and grandson of the late Vice-Admiral Gambier, whose nephew, James, was raised to the British peerage in Nov. 1807; and died Admiral of the Fleet and a G.C.B., in April 1833.
This officer was born at Lisbon on the 21st Nov. 1803; and entered the royal navy, as midshipman on board the Myrmidon 20, Captain Robert Gambier, fitting out for the Mediterranean station, Feb. 27th, 1816. After serving nearly three years in that ship, he joined the Bulwark 76, bearing the flag of Sir John Gore, in the river Medway; and, in Sept. 1819, the Owen Glendower 42, Captain the Hon. R. C. Spencer, destined to South America; where he was removed to the Dauntless 28, Captain George Cornish Gambier, in Oct. 1821. From thence he proceeded to the Marquesas Islands, Otaheite, New South Wales, and, through Torres Straits, to India; on which station, in Mar. 1823, he joined the Liffey 50, bearing the broad pendant of Commodore Charles Grant, by whom he was appointed acting lieutenant of the Tees 26, Captain Thomas Coe, on the 1st April following. His first commission bears date Oct. 22d, 1823.
Mr. Gambler’s subsequent appointments were, in June 1824, to the Blonde 46, Captain Lord Byron, which ship was employed in conveying the remains of the late King and Queen of the Sandwich Islands to Woahoo[1]; and, in Oct. 1826, to the Asia 84, flag-ship of Sir Edward Codrington, under whom he served at the battle of Navarin, and by whom he was presented with the extra commission placed at his disposal, dated Oct. 21st, 1827.
Commander Gambier has one brother, Mark, in the Scots Fusileer Guards; and another, Ferdinand, in the royal navy. The latter was on board the Philomel sloop, Commander Viscount Ingestrie, at the battle of Navarin.