Richard Arthur RN CB (1779 - 1854)

Born 10 Jan 1779 in England

Ancestors

Biography

Richard was born on the 10th of January 1779, son of John Arthur and his wife, Catherine Cornish. ^{[1] [2]}

He joined the Royal Navy in 1788 as Captain's servant aboard HMS Powerful, guardship at Portsmouth, captained by Andrew Sutherland, followed by Southampton with Captain Richard Goodwin Keats, Valiant captained by the King's son, the Duke of Clarence, and Druid, Joseph Ellison. ^[2]

In 1793 he was advanced to the rank of midshipman aboard Captain Alan Gardner's ship, Heroine and proceeded to the East Indies where he joined the Suffolk, flag-ship of Admiral Peter Rainier. Richard remained in eastern waters for several years gaining a broad experience serving as acting lieutenant aboard Orpheus under both Captain Benjamin William Page and Captain William Hills, then aboard Trident, Captains Alexander Milner and John Turner before he returned to England.^[2]

Returned to the north Atlantic he saw service aboard Dreadnought, Captain James Vashon, Excellent, Frank Sotheron and Triumph, Sir Robert Barlow and Hercule, the flag-ship of Admiral James Richard Dacres. On the 1st of November 1805 he was promoted to Commander.^[2]

His first command was the bomb ship HMS Vesuvius, a vessel designed to bomb enemy positions on land, which he paid off in December 1807, and served ashore at Portsmouth until posted to the brig Cherokee in April 1808.^[2]

On the 28th of November 1809 he married Elizabeth Fortescue Wells, daughter of the reverend William Wells, rector of East Allington in Devon.^{[1] [2]} They were parents of 3 sons, Richard, Edward, Fortescue and Oswald and a daughter, Catherine.^[1]

In recognition of his numerous exploits he was promoted to post rank on the 11th of January 1810 and from 1812 to 1815 commanded the Andromeda. It was his last ship for many years enabling him to be a father to his growing family. ^[2] His eldest son, Richard, died on the 20th of July 1832 aged 19. ^[1]

He was ashore for 28 years until posted Captain of Victory, rotting on her moorings and officially designated as a ship's tender for the port admiral's flagship HMS Wellington, and finally the depot ship, Ocean. He was advanced to Flag-rank, on the 9th of November 1846. ^[2]

Elizabeth died on the 16th of August 1853 and Richard followed her a year later on the 26th og October 1854. ^[1] His will may be found here.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} The baronetage and knightage John Foster Page 16: Arthur
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7} A Naval Biographical Dictionary: Richard Arthur