Royal Naval Biography/Irvine, Charles Chamberlayne
CHARLES CHAMBERLAYNE IRVINE, Esq.
[Commander.]
Entered the navy, as midshipman on board the Orion 74, Captain Charles Chamberlayne, in 1789, and was promoted from the Queen Charlotte, first rate, bearing the flag of Lord Keith, into the Princess Royal 98, flag-ship of Rear-Admiral T. L. Frederick, in Aug. 1799. He subsequently served under Sir Charles Hamilton, Bart, in the Melpomene frigate, at the Texel and on the coast of Africa. During the latter part of the French revolutionary war, we find him commanding the Goree, a ship mounting 16 guns, employed in cruising between Senegal and Sierra Leone, for the protection of the trade, which had previously suffered much from the enemy’s privateers in that quarter. After the renewal of hostilities, in 1803, he served in different ships, on the West India, Boulogne, Irish, and other stations. In Mar. 1808, being then first lieutenant of the Eagle 74, Captain (now Sir Charles) Rowley, he was appointed to the pro-tempore command of the Glatton 54, employed in the Mediterranean; and on the 24th May following he obtained the rank of commander. His subsequent appointments were, to the Lord Eldon and Duchess of Bedford, hired armed ships, the latter of which was paid off in 1810.