Robert Winthrop Simpson
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Roberto Simpson Winthrop (14 December 1799 – 23 December 1877), was a sailor of British origin, nationalized Chilean, who made a career in the
Chilean Navy The Chilean Navy ( es, Armada de Chile) is the naval warfare service branch of the Chilean Armed Forces. It is under the Ministry of National Defense. Its headquarters are at Edificio Armada de Chile, Valparaiso. History Origins and the War ...
from 1818 and reached the rank of rear-admiral in 1852. Distinguished himself during the
Spanish American wars of independence The Spanish American wars of independence (25 September 1808 – 29 September 1833; es, Guerras de independencia hispanoamericanas) were numerous wars in Spanish America with the aim of political independence from Spanish rule during the early ...
and the
War of the Confederation The War of the Confederation ( es, Guerra de la Confederación) was a military confrontation waged by Chile, along with Peruvian dissidents, and the Argentine Confederation against the Peru–Bolivian Confederation between 1836 and 1839. As ...
. He was also founder of the Simpson family in Chile, initiator of the first hydrographic works in the country, senator and diplomat.


Biography


Early life

Robert Simpson was born in
Hampshire Hampshire (, ; abbreviated to Hants) is a ceremonial county, ceremonial and non-metropolitan county, non-metropolitan counties of England, county in western South East England on the coast of the English Channel. Home to two major English citi ...
, arriving in Spanish Chile as a midshipman on the sloop ''Rose'' under command of Lord Cochrane, who was involved in the formation of the
Chilean Navy The Chilean Navy ( es, Armada de Chile) is the naval warfare service branch of the Chilean Armed Forces. It is under the Ministry of National Defense. Its headquarters are at Edificio Armada de Chile, Valparaiso. History Origins and the War ...
during the Chilean War of Independence. By 1821, Simpson was already a second lieutenant in the Chilean Navy, and in the same year during the
Peruvian War of Independence The Peruvian War of Independence ( es, Guerra de Independencia del Perú, links=no) consisted in a series of military conflicts in Peru beginning with viceroy Abascal military victories in the south frontier in 1809, in La Paz revolution an ...
he participated in the capture of the Spanish ships ''Resolución'', ''San Fernando'' and ''Milagro'' in
Callao Callao () is a Peruvian seaside city and Regions of Peru, region on the Pacific Ocean in the Lima metropolitan area. Callao is Peru's chief seaport and home to its main airport, Jorge Chávez International Airport. Callao municipality consists o ...
, being promoted to captain on 7 October 1821. Admiral Cochrane gave Simpson command of the , ordered him to
Acapulco Acapulco de Juárez (), commonly called Acapulco ( , also , nah, Acapolco), is a city and major seaport in the state of Guerrero on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, south of Mexico City. Acapulco is located on a deep, semicircular bay and has bee ...
to harass Spanish shipping, and from there move on to California to purchase supplies. While in port, a British officer convinced the foreign crew to take over the ship and leave for Australia, leaving Simpson behind. Back in Chile in 1824, Simpson was given the command of the ''Voltaire'', and together with the under the command of Captain Cobbet maintained the blockade of the
Chiloé Archipelago The Chiloé Archipelago ( es, Archipiélago de Chiloé, , ) is a group of islands lying off the coast of Chile, in the Los Lagos Region. It is separated from mainland Chile by the Chacao Channel in the north, the Sea of Chiloé in the east and t ...
for 4 months. In 1825, he participated in another blockade of Callao under Admiral
Manuel Blanco Encalada Manuel José Blanco y Calvo de Encalada (; April 21, 1790 – September 5, 1876) was a vice-admiral in the Chilean Navy, a political figure, and Chile's first President (Provisional) (1826). Biography Born in Buenos Aires which was the capital ...
. Simpson participated actively in all the naval encounters of the war of independence in Chile and Peru between 1825 and 1826. When the Chilean fleet was dispersed in 1826, Simpson went into the reserve and took command of the Peruvian ship ''Congreso''. In 1827, he took command of a Mexican ship also named ''Congreso''. He finally returned to Chile in 1829 and named the Naval Governor of
Coquimbo Coquimbo is a port city, commune and capital of the Elqui Province, located on the Pan-American Highway, in the Coquimbo Region of Chile. Coquimbo is situated in a valley south of La Serena, with which it forms Greater La Serena with more than ...
. From 1830 to 1836, Simpson commanded the ''Aquiles'' and in December 1834 became the first Chilean hydrographer.


War of the Confederation

At the time of the
War of the Confederation The War of the Confederation ( es, Guerra de la Confederación) was a military confrontation waged by Chile, along with Peruvian dissidents, and the Argentine Confederation against the Peru–Bolivian Confederation between 1836 and 1839. As ...
in 1836, Simpson was in command of the ''Valparaíso'', the flagship of Admiral Encalada. On 26 January 1837, he was named commander of the ''Aquiles'', and his first mission was to notify the government of the Peru-Bolivian Confederation of the Chilean government's repudiation of the Treaty of Paucarpata. Later, he cruised the Peruvian coast and was in charge of disturbing their commerce, and captured the ''Confederación'', taking its command. On 12 January 1839, while the Chilean squadron under his command was at
Casma Casma is a city in the coastal desert of Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = National s ...
taking provisions, the ''Confederación'' was attacked by the Confederate fleet under the command of the French sailor Juan Blanchet. At the naval
Battle of Casma The Battle of Casma was a confrontation that occurred on 12 January 1839, during the War of the Confederation, a conflict between Chile and the Peru–Bolivian Confederation. The government of the Confederation hired privateers to counter the C ...
, the Chileans had a resounding victory when during the battle Blanchet was killed and the Confederate ship ''Arequipeño'' was sunk, but not before the Chilean fleet had been badly battered. Nonetheless, the defeat of the Confederate fleet at Casma by the smaller Chilean squadron left Chile in absolute control of the southeastern Pacific Ocean. Simpson was promoted to commodore on 8 May 1839.


Later life

After the dissolution of the Peru-Bolivian Confederation at the
Battle of Yungay The Battle of Yungay (or Yungai) was the final battle of the War of the Confederation, fought on January 20, 1839, near Yungay, Peru. The United Restorer Army, led by Chilean General Manuel Bulnes, consisting mainly of Chileans and 600 North ...
in 1839, Simpson returned to Chile along with the fleet. Between 1840 and 1852, he had a long and varied career in the Chilean Navy, rising as high as becoming General Commander of the Navy twice. In 1848, he was in command of the , a frigate used as Chile's training ship where he had
Francisco Hudson Ancud.html" ;"title="Punta Arenas by sea from Ancud">Punta Arenas by sea from Ancud, and in orange Hudson's proposed route. The red dot shows the 20 km wide Ofqui Isthmus the only obstacle that makes this route intransitable. --> Francisco Hudson C ...
as a subordinate. On 15 January 1852, Simpson adopted Chilean nationality and was elected Senator. That year he travelled to England to supervise the construction of the , becoming its first commander upon completion. In 1853, he became a rear admiral and continued his naval career until 1871, when he retired after 53 years in the Chilean Navy. Simpson died in
Valparaíso Valparaíso (; ) is a major city, seaport, naval base, and educational centre in the commune of Valparaíso, Chile. "Greater Valparaíso" is the second largest metropolitan area in the country. Valparaíso is located about northwest of Santiago ...
on 23 December 1877.


Personal life

Simpson married twice, first to Mercedes Baeza, a Chilean woman with whom he had two sons and two daughters. His son
Enrique Simpson Baeza Enrique () is the Spanish language, Spanish variant of the given name Heinrich (given name), Heinrich of Germanic origin. Equivalents in other languages are Henry (given name), Henry (English), Enric (Catalan), Enrico (Italian), Henrik (Swedish, D ...
joined the Chilean Navy in 1851 and became an admiral. After his first wife's death, Simpson married Catalina Searle in 1843, with whom Simpson had another four children. One of his sons from this marriage, Juan Manuel, also joined the Navy and also became an admiral.


References


Sources

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Simpson, Roberto 1799 births 1877 deaths Chilean admirals Chilean hydrographers Chilean Navy personnel of the War of the Confederation 19th-century Chilean Navy personnel Chilean Navy personnel of the Spanish American wars of independence Chilean people of English descent English emigrants to Chile Naturalized citizens of Chile Royal Navy officers