HMS Stirling Castle1
F, #17295, b. between July 1808 and 31 December 1811
Last Edited | 16/08/2015 |
ShipConstruction* | HMS Stirling Castle was constructed between July 1808 and 31 December 1811 Rochester, by Ross.2 |
(Ship) Occupation | Between 21 March 1813 and 23 February 1814 Alfred George Robertson having joined the Navy, was a midshipman aboard HMS Stirling Castle which sailed from Spithead to Bengal, India under the command of Sir Home Riggs Popham. On the return journey, Alfred was demobbed at the Cape and was engaged as a clerk by his older half-brother William. Alfred would later write of this journey in his journal - which he called a memo book. "Sunday, March 21st 1813. Embarked on board HMS Stirling Castle of 74 guns at Spithead. Capt. Sir Home Popham. Appointed to carry out Lord Moira as Governor General of India, his lady the Countess of London, children Ladies Flora, lady-in-waiting upon Queen Victoria, and Sophia Hastings, and son, Lt. George Hungerford, afterwards Marquis of Hastings. Col. Hon. Mr. Lester Stanhope A.D.C. Major Doyle, Mty Secy. M. Thomson, Private Secy. Major Munro, uncle of Lady London, and several others. Our Officers Lieut. Lewis Campbell. 2nd Lieut. Jno McCandleigh 3rd " Nath Martin 4th " Rob Deans 5th " J. Brisbane Master James Noble Surgeon Jas. Graham. Rates and mids innumerable of whom a few only of friends and favourites remembered as mates, Roger B. Stead, Jack Roch, Tom Baxter, Rowerft(?) (Biggy) son of the Alderman, Spencer Vapall, son of late Capt. Francis Horatio Nelson, Drake (the fireman) Rush Moore, Parson Egerton, Dick Beaumont, Wm Hodder (Billy Innocence), Conte Hely Hutchinson, nephew of Lady H.J.M. Lethbridge, Sir Home private Secretary and friend of my brother. April 20th. Left Spithead and anchored at St. Helens 22nd. Proceeded on voyage HMS Indefatigable, Capt. Fyffe, in command of convoy of Indiamen. April 26th met with heavy squall in bay of Biscay which carried away all our sails and for a time disabled the ship. All the convoy except the Cormorant store ship which, seeing the squall coming on, was prepared, were in a similar predicament to ourselves. May 12th. Anchored in Funchal Roads, Madeira. Proceeded in a few days to Tenerife for wine and ships stores. Thence to St. Jago. June 1st. left St Jago with Indefatigable and convoy. August early. Arrived in Mauritius, Sir T.T. Farquhar Governor. Anchored off the Tounebar - proceeded thence to Madras. October, arrived and anchored and Sangor Roads. Lord Moira having appointed a pilot vessel to attend the ship. I was amongst party that went up to Calcutta by her and lived at the Navy House in Post Office street if I rightly recollect. Lord Moira sent a party of us up to Barrackpore in a handsome covered boat, where we were very kindly received by Sir William and Lady Kerr, Sir William taking Hodder and myself in his buggy to see the menagerie and other sights in the Park. 30th Dined at Government house by card of invitation from Governor and Lady L. 1814 Feb. 25th. Arrived with large fleet at the Cape where A.G. Robertson remained with his brother William Robertson. Forgot, After leaving Sangor met with heavy gale in Bay of Bengal, wind being against us, and after ineffectually endeavouring to beat up to Madras to replenish our stock of provisions we were obliged to run down to Pondecherry where we anchored and they were forwarded to us by vessel. From there we proceeded to Trincombar where we fell in with Admiral Sir Samuel Hood in the Meiden, who accompanied us to Point de Galle where, after a few days stay we parted with him and came on with our convoy HMS Cornwallis, a new 74 armed en flute in Company to the Cape." |
Citations
- [S428] Website Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org) "HMS Stirling Castle was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 31 December 1811 at Rochester. She became a prison ship in 1839, and was broken up in 1861.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Stirling_Castle_(1811); last accessed 16 August 2015." - [S428] Website Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org) "HMS Stirling Castle
Builder: Ross, Rochester
Ordered: 12 August 1807
Laid down: July 1808
Launched: 31 December 1811
Fate: Broken up, 1861
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/…; last accessed 16 August 2015."