Sydney Smith Haldimand Dickens (18 April 1847 – 2 May 1872) was a Royal Navy officer, the fifth son and seventh child of English novelist Charles Dickens and his wife Catherine.

Biography

An endearing child, nicknamed "The Ocean Spectre" and "The Admiral" by his father, Sydney Dickens was born at 3 Chester Place and baptized at the church of St. Mary in Marylebone in London on 24 June 1847, his godfathers being

William Haldimand William Haldimand (9 September 1784 – 20 September 1862) was an English philanthropist, director of the Bank of England, and Member of Parliament. He was the brother of Jane Marcet, a popular writer on science and economics. Life He was the so ...

of Lausanne, and Henry Porter Smith (1797–1880), an

actuary An actuary is a business professional who deals with the measurement and management of risk and uncertainty. The name of the corresponding field is actuarial science. These risks can affect both sides of the balance sheet and require asset man ...

for the Eagle Life Assurance Company. He was educated at Brackenbury's Military School at

Wimbledon Wimbledon most often refers to: * Wimbledon, London, a district of southwest London * Wimbledon Championships, the oldest tennis tournament in the world and one of the four Grand Slam championships Wimbledon may also refer to: Places London * ...

and at Mr Gibson's boarding school in Boulogne-sur-Mer, with his brothers,

Alfred Alfred may refer to: Arts and entertainment *''Alfred J. Kwak'', Dutch-German-Japanese anime television series * ''Alfred'' (Arne opera), a 1740 masque by Thomas Arne * ''Alfred'' (Dvořák), an 1870 opera by Antonín Dvořák *"Alfred (Interlu ...

and Henry. When Sydney was aged 3, and staying with the family at

Broadstairs Broadstairs is a coastal town on the Isle of Thanet in the Thanet district of east Kent, England, about east of London. It is part of the civil parish of Broadstairs and St Peter's, which includes St Peter's, and had a population in 2011 of ...

, his father asked him if he would walk to the railway station to meet John Forster, who was coming for a visit. Without hesitation Sydney answered "Yes" and set off through the garden gate and down the street until another of the children ran after him and fetched him back. Aged 13 he was sent to North Grove House in Southsea, intending to train as a naval officer, a move designed by his father to encourage him to become self-sufficient in life. As a boy he had shown great energy and character, and was described by his father as a "born little sailor".Ackroyd, p. 878 On 11 September 1860, aged 14, Sydney Dickens joined the Royal Navy as a cadet on the training ship . After his initial training he was posted to on 6 December 1861. He was rated

midshipman A midshipman is an officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Canada (Naval Cadet), Australia, Bangladesh, Namibia, New Zealand, South Afr ...

on 7 March 1862. On 19 May 1864 his career suffered a setback when he was docked a year's seniority "for misconduct"; however, following a period of satisfactory conduct, 8 months of that time was restored to him on 9 November 1866. On 30 August 1867 he was promoted to acting

sub-lieutenant Sub-lieutenant is usually a junior officer rank, used in armies, navies and air forces. In most armies, sub-lieutenant is the lowest officer rank. However, in Brazil, it is the highest non-commissioned rank, and in Spain, it is the second high ...

, and confirmed in the rank from 30 November 1867. He was promoted acting lieutenant on 20 April 1868, reverted to sub lieutenant on 27 August 1868, had a further period as an acting lieutenant from 19 July 1869 to 28 February 1870. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant on 6 February 1872. Charles Dickens was proud of Sydney's naval career, but was unhappy that he had fallen heavily into debt, and refused to help him. Indeed, at one stage Sydney became so reckless with money that his father refused to allow him into the house, and in later years his sister,

Mamie Dickens Mary "Mamie" Dickens (6 March 1838 – 23 July 1896) was the eldest daughter of the English novelist Charles Dickens and his wife Catherine Dickens, Catherine. She wrote a book of reminiscences about her father, and in conjunction with her aunt ...

, said she thought of him with "contempt" and even "horror". Whilst serving in Sydney Dickens was invalided due to ill health on 22 April 1872. He remained aboard ''Topaze'' for the passage home from India to England, and died at sea a few days later. He was buried at sea in the Indian Ocean.'The Family Tree of Charles Dickens' by Mark Charles Dickens Published by the Charles Dickens Museum (2005)

Notes

External links

The Children of Charles DickensDickens
at the Charles Dickens Museum
Dickens on Children, Friends and Associates of Charles Dickens
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dickens, Sydney Smith Haldimand 1847 births 1872 deaths Charles Dickens Royal Navy officers People who died at sea Burials at sea Military personnel from London People from St Pancras, London

Biography

See also

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External links