Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Paget GCH (7 October 1778 – 27 January 1839) was a

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

sailor who also became a

liberal Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * a supporter of liberalism ** Liberalism by country * an adherent of a Liberal Party * Liberalism (international relations) * Sexually liberal feminism * Social liberalism Arts, entertainment and m ...

politician and

Member of Parliament A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members of ...

Naval career

Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Paget (1778–1839) was the son of

Henry Bayly Paget, 1st Earl of Uxbridge Henry Bayly-Paget, 1st Earl of Uxbridge (18 June 1744 – 13 March 1812), known as Henry Bayly until 1769 and as Lord Paget between 1769 and 1784, was a British peer. Early life Born Henry Bayly, Uxbridge was the eldest son of Sir Nicholas Bay ...

, and Jane Champagné, and was brother to

Henry Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey Henry William Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey (17 May 1768 – 29 April 1854), styled Lord Paget between 1784 and 1812 and known as the Earl of Uxbridge between 1812 and 1815, was a British Army officer and politician. After serving as a member ...

. He joined the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...

in 1790, and by 1797 he was captain of HMS ''Martin'', a

sloop of war In the 18th century and most of the 19th, a sloop-of-war in the Royal Navy was a warship with a single gun deck that carried up to eighteen guns. The rating system covered all vessels with 20 guns and above; thus, the term ''sloop-of-war'' enc ...

serving at the

Battle of Camperdown The Battle of Camperdown (known in Dutch as the ''Zeeslag bij Kamperduin'') was a major naval action fought on 11 October 1797, between the British North Sea Fleet under Admiral Adam Duncan and a Batavian Navy (Dutch) fleet under Vice-Admiral ...

.The Gentleman's Magazine
1839, p 657-8, accessed 28 October 2007 In 1798 Paget became post-captain of HMS ''Brilliant'', a small

frigate A frigate () is a type of warship. In different eras, the roles and capabilities of ships classified as frigates have varied somewhat. The name frigate in the 17th to early 18th centuries was given to any full-rigged ship built for speed and ...

in which he captured ''le Dragon'' of 11 guns, and the ''St Jago'', a Spanish privateer of 10 guns. In 1800 he removed into HMS ''Egyptienne''. His next appointment was to HMS ''Hydra'', a frigate of 38 guns, in which he proceeded to the Mediterranean where he remained about twelve months. On 6 April 1803 he commissioned HMS ''Endymion'', a frigate of the largest class, and in the course of the ensuing summer he captured ''Bacchante'', a French corvette of 18 guns, ''Adour'', a store ship pierced for 20 guns, and ''General'', a Morcau schooner privateer of 16 guns. He subsequently intercepted several richly laden Spanish merchantmen coming from South America, and he also captured ''Colombe'', a French corvette of 10 guns off

Ushant Ushant (; br, Eusa, ; french: Ouessant, ) is a French island at the southwestern end of the English Channel which marks the westernmost point of metropolitan France. It belongs to Brittany and, in medieval terms, Léon. In lower tiers of governm ...

Towards the close of the long French war, Paget, while cruising in the ''Endymion'' on the coast of Spain, sighted a French ship-of-the-line in imminent danger, embayed among rocks upon a lee shore, bowsprit and foremast gone, and riding by a stream cable, her only remaining one. Though it was blowing a gale, Paget bore down to the assistance of his enemy, dropped his sheet anchor on the Frenchman's bow, buoyed the cable, and veered it athwart his hawse. This the disabled ship succeeded in getting in, and thus seven hundred lives were rescued from destruction. After performing this chivalrous action, ''Endymion'', being herself in great peril, hauled to the wind, let go her bower anchor, club-hauled and stood off shore on the other tack. Paget participated in an attack on a French frigate squadron anchored at

Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue is a commune in the Manche department in Normandy in north-western France. Toponymy Saint-Vaast is the Norman name of Saint Vedast and Hougue is a Norman language word meaning a "mound" or "loaf" and comes from the Old Norse ...

at the

action of 15 November 1810 The action of 15 November 1810 was a minor naval engagement fought during the British Royal Navy blockade of the French Channel ports in the Napoleonic Wars. British dominance at sea, enforced by a strategy of close blockade, made it difficult ...

, which ultimately led to the destruction of the ''Elisa''. He was appointed to HMS ''Superb'', another third rate belonging to the Channel Fleet, and during a cruise in the

bay of Biscay The Bay of Biscay (), known in Spain as the Gulf of Biscay ( es, Golfo de Vizcaya, eu, Bizkaiko Golkoa), and in France and some border regions as the Gulf of Gascony (french: Golfe de Gascogne, oc, Golf de Gasconha, br, Pleg-mor Gwaskogn), ...

he took several prizes. In 1814 he was employed on the coast of North America under the orders of Sir

Alexander Cochrane Admiral of the Blue Sir Alexander Inglis Cochrane (born Alexander Forrester Cochrane; 23 April 1758 – 26 January 1832) was a senior Royal Navy commander during the Napoleonic Wars and achieved the rank of admiral. He had previously captain ...

by whom he was entrusted with the command of a squadron stationed off

New London New London may refer to: Places United States *New London, Alabama *New London, Connecticut *New London, Indiana *New London, Iowa *New London, Maryland *New London, Minnesota *New London, Missouri *New London, New Hampshire, a New England town ** ...

and took part in an attack upon

Wareham, Massachusetts Wareham ( ) is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2020 census, the town had a population of 23,303. History Wareham was first settled in 1678 by Europeans as part of the towns of Plymouth, Massachusetts, Plymouth ...

during the

War of 1812 The War of 1812 (18 June 1812 – 17 February 1815) was fought by the United States of America and its indigenous allies against the United Kingdom and its allies in British North America, with limited participation by Spain in Florida. It bega ...

. Captain Paget was appointed to the command of HMY ''Prince Regent'' on 1 January 1819 and afterwards to the ''Royal George''. He attended

King George IV George IV (George Augustus Frederick; 12 August 1762 – 26 June 1830) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and King of Hanover from the death of his father, King George III, on 29 January 1820, until his own death ten y ...

, and before his accession he nominated Charles as a

Knight Grand Cross Grand Cross is the highest class in many orders, and manifested in its insignia. Exceptionally, the highest class may be referred to as Grand Cordon or equivalent. In other cases, there may exist a rank even higher than Grand Cross, e.g. Grand ...

of the Hanoverian Guelphic Order and a

Knight Bachelor The title of Knight Bachelor is the basic rank granted to a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not inducted as a member of one of the organised orders of chivalry; it is a part of the British honours system. Knights Bachelor are the ...

Brighton Brighton () is a seaside resort and one of the two main areas of the City of Brighton and Hove in the county of East Sussex, England. It is located south of London. Archaeological evidence of settlement in the area dates back to the Bronze A ...

on 19 October 1819. In January 1822, Sir Charles succeeded his brother Lieut Gen Sir

Edward Paget General Sir Edward Paget (3 November 1775 – 13 May 1849) was a British Army officer. Career Born the fourth son of Henry Paget, 1st Earl of Uxbridge, Edward Paget became a cornet in the 1st Regiment of Life Guards in 1792. He was Member o ...

as a

Groom of the Bedchamber Groom of the Chamber was a position in the Household of the monarch in early modern England. Other ''Ancien Régime'' royal establishments in Europe had comparable officers, often with similar titles. In France, the Duchy of Burgundy, and in Eng ...

, and he continued to hold that appointment during the whole reign of

King William IV William IV (William Henry; 21 August 1765 – 20 June 1837) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and King of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until his death in 1837. The third son of George III, William succeeded h ...

. He was made a commodore on board the ''Royal George'' on 26 July 1822 and was advanced to the rank of

rear admiral Rear admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, equivalent to a major general and air vice marshal and above that of a commodore and captain, but below that of a vice admiral. It is regarded as a two star "admiral" rank. It is often regarde ...

on 9 April 1823. In March 1828 he was appointed commander in chief on the coast of Ireland. He attained the rank of vice admiral on 10 January 1837 and succeeded Vice Admiral Sir

Peter Halkett Admiral Sir Peter Halkett, 6th Baronet (''c.'' 1765 – 7 October 1839) was a senior Royal Navy officer of the early nineteenth century who is best known for his service in the French Revolutionary Wars. The younger son a Scottish baronet, ...

in the command of the

North America and West Indies Squadron The North America and West Indies Station was a formation or command of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy stationed in North American waters from 1745 to 1956. The North American Station was separate from the Jamaica Station until 1830 when the t ...

using HMS ''Cornwallis'' as his flagship. Sir Charles Paget died on board HMS ''Tartarus'', whilst she was on her way from

Port Royal Port Royal is a village located at the end of the Palisadoes, at the mouth of Kingston Harbour, in southeastern Jamaica. Founded in 1494 by the Spanish, it was once the largest city in the Caribbean, functioning as the centre of shipping and co ...

Bermuda ) , anthem = "God Save the King" , song_type = National song , song = " Hail to Bermuda" , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , mapsize2 = , map_caption2 = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = , e ...

. His death ensued after a violent attack of

yellow fever Yellow fever is a viral disease of typically short duration. In most cases, symptoms include fever, chills, loss of appetite, nausea, muscle pains – particularly in the back – and headaches. Symptoms typically improve within five days. In ...

during which for three days his death was hourly expected. Of his staff of twenty, six had died including Dr Scott the surgeon. Feeling better, but weak, and strangely free from rheumatic pain on 19 January he embarked on board the ''Tartarus'', for the purpose of going to the Bermudas. He was off those islands for three days, but being unable to reach them was obliged to go back to St Thomas's.

Parliament

He was

for the

rotten borough A rotten or pocket borough, also known as a nomination borough or proprietorial borough, was a parliamentary borough or constituency in England, Great Britain, or the United Kingdom before the Reform Act 1832, which had a very small electorat ...

Milborne Port Milborne Port is a village, electoral ward and civil parish in Somerset, England, east of Sherborne, and in the South Somerset district. It has a population of 2,802. The parish includes the hamlets of Milborne Wick and Kingsbury Regis. The vil ...

from 1804 to 1806, then succeeded his elder brother

as MP for

Caernarvon Boroughs Caernarfon was a parliamentary constituency centred on the town of Caernarfon in Wales. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system. The constituency was created in 1536 as a District of Boroughs, represented in ...

from 1806 to 1826, and was its MP again from 1831 to 1835. According to Hansard's records, Paget made no contributions to debates in parliament.

Family

Peget was buried in St Bartholomew's Church in

Rogate Rogate is a village and civil parish in the Chichester district of West Sussex, England, in the Western Rother valley. The village is on the A272 road west of Midhurst and east of Petersfield, Hampshire. The civil parish includes the villages o ...

West Sussex West Sussex is a county in South East England on the English Channel coast. The ceremonial county comprises the shire districts of Adur, Arun, Chichester, Horsham, and Mid Sussex, and the boroughs of Crawley and Worthing. Covering an ar ...

. He had married Elizabeth Monck. She was daughter of Henry Monck of

Fore, County Westmeath Fore () is a village, next to the old Benedictine Abbey ruin of Fore Abbey, situated to the north of Lough Lene in County Westmeath, in Ireland. The village, (sister parish of nearby St. Mary's Collinstown) is situated within a valley between ...

and his wife Lady Elizabeth Araminta Gore, daughter of

Arthur Gore, 2nd Earl of Arran Arthur Saunders Gore, 2nd Earl of Arran KP, PC (Ire) (25 July 1734 – 8 October 1809) styled The Honourable Arthur Gore from 1758 to 1762 and Viscount Sudley from 1762 to 1773, was an Irish peer and politician. Early life Arran was the eldes ...

, and granddaughter of

George Paul Monck George may refer to: People * George (given name) * George (surname) * George (singer), American-Canadian singer George Nozuka, known by the mononym George * George Washington, First President of the United States * George W. Bush, 43rd Presiden ...

, Member of Parliament for Coleraine. She died at Fair Oak on 17 August 1843, aged 56 years.Memorial inscription in St Bartholomew's Church, Rogate, West Sussex, England Their children included: *Charles Henry Paget R.N. (15 July 1806 – 26 May 1845). *Elizabeth Jane Paget (1807-13 June 1866) *Caroline Paget (1808-11 June 1880) married her cousin Capt. Algernon Henry Champagne Capell, grandson of

William Capell, 4th Earl of Essex William Anne Holles Capell, 4th Earl of Essex (7 October 1732 – 4 March 1799), was a British landowner and peer, a member of the House of Lords. Early life Capell was born on 7 October 1732 in Turin. He was the son of William Capell, 3rd Earl o ...

and Lady Harriet Bladen. They had two sons, and a daughter. *Louisa Augusta Paget (born 1810) married in 1828 William Augustus Broadhead (born 1802), of the 7th Hussars, son of

Theodore Henry Broadhead Theodore Henry Broadhead (3 December 1767 – 12 December 1820) was an English army officer and politician. Life The son of Theodore Henry Broadhead the elder, whose original surname was Brinckman, and his wife Mary Bingley, he was educated at Et ...

. *Edward Paget (born 1811) *Georgiana Paget (born 1815) *Brownlow Henry Paget (born 1819). He died on board HMS ''Dublin'' on 18 February 1843, aged 24 years, as Lieutenant. *Frederic(k)a Georgina Augusta (born 1822). She died at Fair Oak, Rogate on 12 September 1835 aged 13 years. Also Horatio Henry Paget died aged 15 as a midshipman on board HMS ''Talbot'' on 28 April 1828.

References

External links

* , - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Paget, Charles 1778 births 1839 deaths Royal Navy personnel of the French Revolutionary Wars Royal Navy personnel of the Napoleonic Wars Deaths from yellow fever Knights Bachelor Whig (British political party) MPs for English constituencies Whig (British political party) MPs for Welsh constituencies

Charles Charles is a masculine given name predominantly found in English language, English and French language, French speaking countries. It is from the French form ''Charles'' of the Proto-Germanic, Proto-Germanic name (in runic alphabet) or ''*k ...

Royal Navy vice admirals UK MPs 1802–1806 UK MPs 1806–1807 UK MPs 1807–1812 UK MPs 1812–1818 UK MPs 1818–1820 UK MPs 1820–1826 UK MPs 1831–1832 UK MPs 1832–1835 Younger sons of earls Members of Parliament for Caernarfon

Naval career

Parliament

Family

References

Further reading

External links