# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Vassall, Spencer Lambart Hunter

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​VASSALL, Kt, K.H. (Captain, 1837. f-p., 17; h-p., 17.)
Sir Spencer Lambart Hunter Vassall was born 17 May, 1799, and died 29 May, 1846, at 29, Hyde Park Gardens. He was eldest son of Lieut-Colonel Spencer Thos. Vassall, who, after a dashing career ot 28 years, was mortally wounded at the head of his regiment, the 38th, in the assault upon Monte Video 3 Feb. 1807, by Catherine Brandrith Backhouse, daughter of the Rev. D. Evans, D.D., Rector of West Tilbury, co. Essex, and Chaplain to George III., and wife afterwards of Thos. Chetham Strode, Esq., of South-hill House, co. Somerset, brother of Rear-Admiral Sir Edw. Chetham Strode, K.C.B., K.C.H. Sir Spencer was only brother of the present Major Rawdon John Popham Vassall. His youngest sister, Catherine, married, first, Hon. Thos. Le Marchant Saumarez, second son of the late Lord de Saumarez, G.C.B.; and, secondly, the Rev. Eardley Wilmot Michell.
This officer entered the Navy, in May, 1812, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Venerable 74, Capt. Sir Home Popham. Proceeding in her to the north coast of Spain he was there present in an attack upon the French at Lequeytio; at the destruction of the fortifications of Bermeo and Plenoia, the castle of Galea, and the batteries of Algorta, Begona. El Campillo las Quersas, and Xebiles; at the reduction of Castro; at the attacks upon Puerto Galletta, Guetaria, and Santander; and at the capture of the castle of Ano. Removing with Sir H. Popham in March, 1813, to the Stirling Castle 74, he sailed in that ship with the Earl of Moira for India; on his return whence he joined, in June, 1814, the Magnificent 74, Capt. Willoughby Thos. Lake, and sailed for the West Indies, where he attained the rating of Midshipman. In Aug. 1815 he was received, at Spithead, on board the Lacedaemonian 38, Capt. Sam. Jackson; with whom in the ensuing Sept. we find him proceeding, in the Niger 38, to the coast of North America. He was there, in July, 1817, transferred to the Harrier 18, Capt. Sir Chas. Thos. Jones. In Oct. 1818, four months after he had returned to England (which he had done for the purpose of passing his examination), he was again, in the Iphigenia 42, Capt. Hyde Parker, ordered to the West Indies; on which station, in Feb. 1819, he rejoined his former Captain, then Rear-Admiral, Sir Home Popham, on board the Sybille, 44. On 11 March ensuing he went back, as Acting-Lieutenant, to the Iphigenia; he was officially promoted 3 July in the same year; and he was subsequently appointed – 16 Aug. 1819, for rather more than two months, to the Spartan 46, Capt. Wm. Furlong Wise, employed in the West Indies and Channel – 5 July, 1820, to the Blossom 24, Capts. Fred. Edw. Venables Vernon (now Harcourt) and Archibald McLean, fitting for St. Helena and the Brazils, from which latter station repeated attacks of yellow fever compelled him in July, 1823, to invalid – 11 Aug. 1824, to the Prince Regent 120, flag-ship of Sir Robt. Moorsom at the Nore – 23 July, 1825, to the Ranger 28, Capt. Lord Henry Fred. Thynne, whom he accompanied to South America – and, in April, 1827, to the Ganges 84, bearing the flag on that station of Sir Robt. Waller Otway. In the following July (he had been promoted at home to the rank of Commander by a commission bearing date 30 April, 1827) he was nominated Acting-Commander of the Éclair sloop; which vessel he paid off two months afterwards. His next and last appointment was, 24 Nov. 1831, to the Harrier 18, in the East Indies, where he was actively employed, particularly in the suppression of piracy in the straits of Malacca. After two severe conflicts he succeeded in destroying the settlements at Poulo Arroa and Poulo Sujee; and to him may be ascribed the merit of having commenced a system of decided operations against the marauders, and of setting an example which was followed by the Andromache and other men-of-war. The Harrier was paid off in July, 1835; and her Commander advanced to Post-rank 10 Jan. 1837. He was nominated a K.H. 22 of the same month; and in 1838 he received the honour of Knighthood.
Sir H. L. S. Vassall married, 9 May, 1844, Letitia, only daughter of the late Edw. Berkeley Napier, Esq., of Pennard House, co. Somerset, and widow of the Rev. C. H. Pulsford, Canon of Wells Cathedral and Vicar of Burnham. Agents – Collier and Snee.