Royal Naval Biography/Sturt, Henry Evelyn Pitfield
HENRY EVELYN PITFIELD STURT, Esq.
[Post-Captain of 1810.]
Was made a Lieutenant in Feb. 1800; promoted to the rank of Commander, April 29, 1802; and afterwards successively appointed to the Rambler, Skylark, and Termagant, sloops. On the 7th Nov. 1807, he captured le Renarde French privateer, of 14 guns and 39 men. This vessel not surrendering when repeatedly called to, and likewise making an Attempt to lay the Skylark on board, obliged Captain Sturt to fire at her, by which the French commander was wounded, and his lugger’s main-mast shot away.
The Termagant formed part of the squadron under Rear Admiral (now Sir George) Martin, when that officer was employed in protecting Sicily from an invasion, threatened by Murat, in 1810; and Captain Sturt was rewarded with a post commission for his active services, as senior officer of the mortar-boats then stationed in the Faro of Messina. He takes rank from Oct. 21, 1810. Since the peace he has commanded the Phaeton of 46 guns, in which frigate he conveyed the Right Hon. C. R. Vaughan, British Ambassador, to North America, in 1825; and afterwards brought home three miirums of dollars, from the West Indies.
Captain Sturt married a Portuguese lady, whom he had assisted in her flight from a convent in one of the Western Islands.
Agent.– ___ M‘Inerheny, Esq.