Page:A Naval Biographical Dictionary.djvu/1001

Rh ROBERTSON. 

, born 21 May, 1791, is son of the late Robt. Robertson, Esq., of Milford, by Laetitia, daughter of Geo. Webb, Esq., Hackard, co. Pembroke, who married Anne, daughter of the Rev. Jas. Bowen, Rector of Langum; and is first-cousin of the present Chas. Wheeler Townsend Webb Bowen, of Camrose House, co. Pembroke. His elder and only brother, George, was an officer in the Army.

This officer entered the Navy, 16 Sept. 1800, as L.M., on board the, Lieut.-Commander Skinner, in which vessel and in the armed ship, Capt. Thos. Browne, he continued employed on the Milford station until Nov. 1801. From March to Nov. 1802, and from May, 1803, to Aug. 1804, he served, the latter part of the time in the capacity of Midshipman, in the Insolent 12, Lieut.-Commander Nicholas Kortwright, and 18, Capt. Robt. Keen. On 13 Nov. 1805, while proceeding in the 10, Lieut.-Commander Robt. Innes, to join the 74, Capt. Chas. Rowley (under whom he had been serving for about 14 months in the 64, off Cadiz and in the Channel and North Sea), he was wrecked, and taken prisoner, near Calais. During his consequent sojourn in France he made several attempts to escape. On one occasion he had actually reached the coast, when he was apprehended, carried back several hundred miles in chains, and confined on bread and water. At length, however, after he had been incarcerated in as many as 80 prisons, and had undergone the greatest hardships, he succeeded, 16 March, 1811, in accomplishing his flight. He crossed the North Sea in an open boat, and on his arrival in England was ordered out to the Baltic in the 98, Capt. Sam. Hood Linzee, of which ship he beame an acting and a confirmed Lieutenant 1 June and 6 July in the same year, 1811. The being paid off in Feb. 1812, he was next, from 2 Feb. 1813 until she was put out of commission 26 Aug. 1815, employed in the West Indies, South America, and Channel, on board the  38, Capt. Chas. Malcolm. While in that ship he frequently landed papers on the coast of France, assisted at the capture of many of the enemy’s vessels, and for his boat and general services was strongly recommended for promotion. Since he left her, although anxious for employment, he has been suffered to remain on half-pay.

The Lieutenant is a Magistrate for co. Pembroke. He married, in 1819, Caroline Amelia, youngest daughter of the late John Lloyd, Esq., of Foes-y-bleiddiad, Mabws, and Dale Castle, co. Pembroke, High Sheriff for Pembrokeshire in 1785 and for Cardiganshire in 1803, and sister-in-law of Sir Geo. Cooper, Chief-Justice at Madras. – Messrs. Chard.

 ROBERTSON. 

entered the Navy 6 April, 1831; passed his examination 5 Dec. 1837; and was promoted (while serving in the Mediterranean as Mate of the 120, Capt. Sir Watkin Owen Pell) to the rank of Lieutenant 26 Aug. 1841. Being appointed, 1 Oct. following. Senior of the 18, Capt. Chas. Bell, he sailed in that sloop for the East Indies, and on the death of his Captain was nominated, 8 Aug. 1844, to the acting command of her. He was confirmed in his present rank 11 March, 1845, and has since been on half-pay. – Messrs. Chard.

 ROBERTSON. 

was born 7 Feb. 1780.

This officer entered the Navy, 1 May, 1803, as A.B., on board the 28, Capt. Alex. Skene, on the Halifax station, where he continued employed, principally in the capacity of Master’s Mate, in the 50, Capts. Skene and John Talbot, 32, Capts. John Nairne, John Wright, and Wm. Love, 18, Capts. W. Love and Chas. Claridge, 18, Capt. Wm. Henry Byam, and 18, Capt. Fred. Hickey, until Dec. 1809. He then served for nearly six years in the Mediterranean in the 38, Capts. Thos. Jas. Maling, Geo. Chas. Mackenzie, Rich. Thomas, and Rowland Mainwaring, 36, Capts. R. Mainwaring, Jeremiah Coghlan, and Chas. Napier, and and  sloops, both commanded by Capt. Mainwaring. He acted as Lieutenant in the and ; and on leaving, in Nov. 1815, the  (in which vessel he had been officiating as Acting-Master) was presented with a commission bearing date 17 of the preceding March. He has since been on half-pay.

Lieut. Robertson married, 23 Jan. 1817, Miss Ann Spence, a lady by whom he has issue five children.

 ROBERTSON. 

is third son of the late Arthur Robertson, Esq., of Inshes, co. Inverness (a descendant of David I., King of Scotland), by Katherine, daughter of Jas. Lawrie, Esq., of Burngrange and Lappie, co. Kinross, and niece of Colonel Jas. Masterton, M.P. for Stirling, A.D.C. to the Duke of Cumberland at Culloden, fifth in descent from the marriage of Ronald Masterton, of Park Mill, heir male of Masterton of that ilk, with Marjory Bruce, grand-daughter of Sir David Bruce, of Clackmannan, derived from the Bruces of Annandale, the progenitors of the illustrious Robt. Bruce. One of his brothers, Simon Fraser, an officer in the E.I.Co.’s service, died Deputy-Adjutant-General of Bombay; and another, Thomas, filling the same appointment, was drowned in the Lady Jane Dundas East Indiaman.

This officer entered the Navy, 9 April, 1795, as A.B., on board the 80, Capts. John Pakenham and Wm. Hancock Kelly, in which ship he continued, on the Mediterranean and Channel stations, nearly the whole time in the capacity of Midshipman, until Aug. 1801. From 11 Sept. ensuing until 12 Aug. 1802 he served, again in the Mediterranean, chiefly as Master’s Mate, in the 98, Capt. Jas. Vashon, and 80, flag-ship of Sir Jas. Saumarez. He was made Lieutenant, 18 Jan. 1806, into the sloop, Capts. Alex. Robt. Kerr and Alex. Rich. Mackenzie, lying in the Downs; and between the following Nov. and July, 1814, was employed on the Mediterranean, Baltic, and Home stations in the 98, Capt. Fras. Fayerman, 32, Capt. Nathaniel Day Cochrane,  120, flag-ship of Rear-Admiral Fras. Pickmore, 10, Capt. Colin Macdonald,  brig, Capt. Joseph Pearce,  38, Capt. Fred. Langford, and 10, Capt. Edm. Lyons. From 19 March, 1822, until 14 April, 1826, he commanded a Signal station on Cooper’s Hill. For several years past he has been employed on quarantine service at St. Margaret’s Hope, Frith of Forth.

He is married and has issue. – Hallett and Robinson.

 ROBERTSON. 

entered the Navy 11 June, 1823; passed his examination in 1829; and obtained his commission 5 Dec. 1831. From 23 Jan. 1835 until 1844 he held an appointment in the Coast Guard. He is now unemployed. – J. Hinxman.

 ROBERTSON. 

entered the Navy, 5 Oct. 1797, as Midshipman, on board the 64, Capt. Thos. Revell Shivers, attached to the force in the North Sea; and from April, 1798, until Aug. 1803 was employed, chiefly on the Home station, in the 74, Capt. John Sutton,  110 flag-ship of Hon. Wm. , 36, Capts. Hon. Henry Hotham and Edw. W. C. R. Owen, and 74, Capt. J. Sutton. As Master’s