# Royal Naval Biography/Chetham, Edward

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EDWARD CHETHAM, Esq. A Companion of the Most Honorable Military Order of the Bath. [Post-Captain of 1807.]
This officer is a son of the late Thomas Chetham, of Mellor Hall, Co. Derby, Esq. Surveyor-General of the Customs, London, by Anne, sister to the late Colonel Strode, of South Hill House, in the parish of West Cranmer, Somersetshire.
Mr. Edward Chetham was born in July, 1775; and he entered the naval service in 1786; but does not appear to have joined any sea-going ship until May, 1789, at which period he was received as a Midshipman on board the Centurion 50, bearing the flag of his patron, the late Admiral Philip Affleck who had recently been appointed commander-in-chief on the Jamaica station.
Early in 1790, Mr. Chetham was sent in pursuit of two marines, who had committed theft and afterwards deserted from their post, whilst on duty at Port-Royal dock-yard. On coming up with those culprits, he found himself under the necessity of firing at one of them, and thereby wounded him in the side, after which they both submitted to be taken back as prisoners. Mr. Chetham’s conduct on this occasion gave ​great satisfaction to the Admiral, who would have promoted him immediately had he been qualified to receive a commission; but unfortunately his probationary term did not expire until their return to England.
Previous to her departure from the West Indies, the Centurion was actively employed at the different French ports in St. Domingo, in consequence of a formidable insurrection among the negroes, which threatened destruction to that colony. She was paid off in Aug. 1792.
Mr. Chetham next joined the Duke 98, flag-ship of Lord Hood, who shortly afterwards placed him under the present Vice-Admiral Hanwell, then commanding the Scout sloop of war, with whom he continued until removed into the Victory of 100 guns, bearing his lordship’s flag, at Toulon, in Dec. 1793.
From this period, Mr. Chetham was engaged in a series of active and arduous services (including the evacuation of Toulon, and the sieges of St. Fiorenzo, Bastia, and Calvi) till his promotion to the rank of Lieutenant, Aug. 18, 1794. On that occasion he was appointed to the Agamemnon 64, commanded by the immortal Nelson, under whom he bore a part in the actions off Genoa, Mar. 13 and 14, 1795.
To his infinite regret. Lieutenant Chetham was soon obliged to quit the Agamemnon, a wound rendering it necessary for him to return home, where he arrived about July in the same ​year. His next appointment was, Nov. 1795, to the Defiance 74, in which ship he served on the Channel station, for a period of three years. The terrible fate with which he was menaced during the general mutiny will be seen by reference to p. 242 of our first volume.
From that painful subject, we now feel great pleasure in directing the reader’s attention to a most gallant exploit – the capture of la Vengeance French frigate, mounting 52 guns, by la Seine 48, to which ship Lieutenant Chetham had been appointed in Nov. 1798. An account of that action will be found under the head of Sir David Milne, K.C.B. the following is an extract from his Captain’s official letter to Lord Hugh Seymour, dated off St. Domingo, Aug. 22, 1800:
“The behaviour of the officers and ship’s company was such as has always characterised British seamen. To my first Lieutenant, Mr. Chetham, I am greatly indebted for his cool and steady behaviour, and for the amazing fire kept up from the main-deck, which nothing could surpass.”
It is scarcely necessary to add that Lieutenant Chetham was immediately advanced to the rank of Commander, a just reward for his gallant conduct. He, however, appears to have continued with Captain Milne, in la Seine, on the West India station, until May 1801. We shall now give an outline of the services by which he attained his subsequent promotion.
After remaining on half-pay nearly three years, Captain Chetham was appointed to the Sally hired armed ship, and principally employed affording protection to the Baltic trade. In April, 1807, being then at Elsineur, he took upon himself the responsibility of proceeding to Dantzic, in consequence of the British Consul having hinted to him by letter that the ship he commanded might be of service in checking the operations of the enemy, whose grand object at that period it was, to secure the possession or command of the countries which he had over-run, by reducing the fortresses which still held out on the Vistula, the Pregel, and the Oder. It may ​not be amiss to remark, that the great battle of Eylau had afforded Napoleon Buonaparte sufficient leisure, and ample means, to prosecute the siege of Dantzic, and that the investment of that city was completed on the 2d April, 1807.
Captain Chetham, having taken the Charles hired armed brig under his orders, arrived off Dantzic, in company with that vessel, on the 12th of the same month, and immediately volunteered to protect the entrance of Fairwater haven, which had previously been attacked by part of the powerful French army under Marshal Lefebvre. This handsome offer was thankfully accepted by the Prussian commander-in-chief. General Kalereuth; and the Sally accordingly moved into Fairwater, where she was moored so as to flank an isthmus that the enemy would be obliged to pass in order to renew their attack.
On the 17th April, Captain Chetham made a desperate attempt to open the communication between Dantzic and Fort Weeickselmunde, by crossing the bar, and warping and towing his ship up the Vistula, towards the Great Hollands, a position on the Nehrung, at the point of the Holmen, which the enemy had taken possession of, in order to intercept all supplies intended for the Prussian garrison, and at the same time to secure a ready communication between the different divisions of Marshal Lefebvre’s army. On this occasion Captain Chetham lightened his ship sufficiently to pass the bar, by putting all her stores on rafts in Fairwater haven.
At 6-30 P.M., the Sally commenced action with upwards of 2000 French troops, who had strongly entrenched themselves at the Great Hollands, where they were also sheltered by the ruins of some houses lately burnt, and supported by three pieces of artillery, as likewise by a small battery at Legan, on the opposite bank of the river. General Kalereuth and his brave garrison were the admiring spectators of this heroic act, which, although not completely successful, had ​the good effect of inspiring them with additional energy and confidence.
By 9 o’clock, the Sally’s larboard guns were all disabled; her masts, sails, and rigging much damaged; and half her crew, including Mr. James Edwards Eastman, the first Lieutenant, wounded. To bring her starboard broadside to bear, and at the same time to maintain her position, was impossible; there being then no wind, and the current running with great rapidity. Captain Chetham was consequently obliged to drop down to his former station, where he had the satisfaction of receiving a handsome letter from General Kalereuth, of which the following is a copy:
“Sir,– I return you hearty thanks for your endeavours the day before yesterday to re-establish the communication; and although they were not completely successful, owing to the wind not favoring, I feel myself nevertheless much indebted to you for them, as well as for the station you have taken in Fairwater, to protect that fort, which I consider perfectly safe while you are there; and I trust in your praiseworthy zeal and attachment to the good cause, that, when circumstances and the weather permits, without exposing your ships, you will not discontinue to make such attempts as may re-establish the communication which is so necessary. The interruption to it is so much the more painful, as it deprives me of the pleasure of seeing you, and repeating the perfect regard with which I remain. Sir, your most obedient servant,
(Signed)“Kalereuth.”
“Dantzic, 19th April, 1807.”
(“Translated and attested by Alexander Gibson, junior.”)
Some idea may be formed of the close nature of this conflict when we state, that more than 1000 musket-balls were found sticking in the Sally’s larboard side; and that the enemy’s loss, according to information received a day or two afterwards, amounted to upwards of 400 killed and wounded. Captain George Sanders, of the Falcon sloop, then lying outside the Fairwater, his first Lieutenant and Purser, served under Captain Chetham as volunteers on the above occasion.
​Early in May, Captain Chetham despatched the Falcon to Pillau, the sea-port of Koningsberg, in consequence of Lord Hutchinson, who was then at the head-quarters of the allied armies, having requested him to send a vessel thither, to act as circumstances might require.
About this period a council of war was held, at which the King of Prussia and the Grand Duke Constantine attended. The subject of their deliberations was the dangerous situation of Dantzic, which city the French had already attempted to storm; and it was finally agreed that an effort should be made to throw succours into the garrison by sea.
In pursuance of this resolution, the Russian General Kaminsky embarked with Captain Sanders, through whose activity the troops under that officer’s command were speedily conducted to Dantzic bay; and on their arrival, May 12th, no time was lost in transporting them, by the boats of the Sally and her consorts, to Fort Weeickselmunde, where the General made immediate preparations for fighting his way to the city. In this he would probably have succeeded, had he delayed his attack upon the enemy’s entrenchments until the wind became favorable for the Sally to co-operate with him, according to Captain Chetham’s suggestion; but unfortunately he did not feel justified in doing so, and although at first successful, he was ultimately obliged to retreat with immense loss, Marshal Lefebvre having sent over a large reinforcement, and thereby reversed the situation of the parties opposed to each other on that side of the Vistula. Captain Chetham, on this occasion, used every effort to get the Sally across the bar, but without effect, the water being then very low, owing to the prevailing winds: he, however, had the satisfaction of finding that his exertions and intended co-operation were properly appreciated by General Kaminsky, who afterwards made a very flattering representation of his conduct to the Emperor Alexander.
During these disastrous operations in the Nehrung, Captain ​Chetham received orders to return to Elsineur, and convoy a fleet from thence to England; but at the solicitation of General Kaminsky (conveyed by letter) he remained in Fairwater, and desired the commanders of three praams, who arrived off Dantzic about the 13th May, to follow his directions. This deviation from his instructions was subsequently approved by the Admiralty.
On the 17th May, Captain Chetham determined upon making an attempt to supply Dantzic with ammunition; and he accordingly ordered the Dauntless to the mouth of the Vistula, for the purpose of forcing a bridge which the enemy had constructed, and of conveying 600 barrels of gunpowder to the besieged garrison; but this design was likewise frustrated through adverse circumstances, for on her way thither, with studding-sails set, the praam suddenly broke round off; and, owing either to the ignorance or obstinacy of her pilots, she grounded on the Holmen, within half-musket shot of the enemy’s batteries. On witnessing this disaster. Captain Chetham immediately hoisted his top-sails, and sent to the Valorous for volunteers (the Sally having only 20 effective men on board); but before his boat could return he was informed by a Russian officer that the Dauntless had struck her colours, and any further effort to assist her would consequently have been useless.
It is foreign to our plan to enter much into the details of the subsequent events in Western Prussia, they being almost entirely of a military nature: suffice it to say, that General Kaminsky was conveyed back to Pillau by the Falcon, some of his troops accompanying him in that sloop; the others embarked on board the Charles, and the vessels in which they had arrived under the protection of Captain Sanders: that General Kalereuth was obliged to capitulate, about six weeks prior to the famous treaty of Tilsit; and that Colonel Schuler, the gallant defender of Weeickselmunde, and his garrison, were rescued by Captains Chetham and Mangin, who succeeded in ​bringing them off at a very critical moment, the enemy being then in the act of entering the fort, with such a force as would have rendered the most determined resistance unavailable.
We next find Captain Chetham proceeding to Pillau, where he received the personal thanks of the Prussian monarch for his bravery on the 17th April, as also for the other services performed by him during his continuance in Fairwater, a period of nearly six weeks. It was in consequence of his dashing conduct on that day, his unremitted endeavours to relieve the garrison of Dantzic, and his zealous behaviour on other occasions, whilst commanding the Sally, that the Admiralty were pleased to include him in the promotion which took place among the officers of Lord Gambier’s fleet, Oct. 13, 1807.
In June, 1809, the subject of this memoir was appointed acting Captain of the Illustrious 74; in which ship he accompanied the expedition to the Scheldt, where we find him actively employed, landing troops and artillery, until Aug. 9, when he was superseded by her proper commander, the late Captain William Robert Broughton.
For eight months from this period. Captain Chetham appears to have laboured under the effects of the Walcheren ague and fever, with which he was afflicted at the time of his departure for England. In June 1810, however, we find him sufficiently recovered to accept another command ; and he was accordingly appointed to the Leyden 64, armed en flute; in which ship, when passing through the straits of Messina, with troops sent out to defend Sicily, he was warmly engaged with the enemy’s batteries and flotilla, she being becalmed within gun-shot of the Calabrian shore. He was subsequently employed conveying troops to and from England, Lisbon, and the Mediterranean.
Captain Chetham’s next appointment was. May 7, 1812, to the Hamadryad frigate; but as she was then at sea, he did not assume the command of that ship until her arrival at Spithead, on the 13th of the following month.
After watching the harbour of Cherburgh for about two months. Captain Chetham proceeded to the Baltic, where he ​commanded a small detached squadron during the remainder of 1812. In Oct. he reported the capture of a Danish rowboat, mounting 2 brass guns and 1 swivel, with a complement of 30 men; and le Pilotin French lugger privateer, of four 12-pounder carronades and 31 men. The former vessel was taken by a single boat’s crew, under the command of his first Lieutenant, Mr. Horace Petley; the latter by a detachment of boats, under the directions of the same gallant othcer, assisted by Lieutenant Frank Cutler, of the Clio.
In the evening of Feb. 28, 1813, when off Beachy Head, on her return to the Baltic station, the Hamadryad was fired at by a French lugger, which had been skulking under the land. Captain Chetham immediately tacked, brought the enemy under his lee-guns, and returned the salute with a few shot; but unfortunately the lugger persisted so obstinately in her endeavours to escape, that she overset and sunk at such a distance from the frigate as precluded the possibility of saving any of her crew.
During the whole of the ensuing season. Captain Chetham commanded a light squadron stationed in the Sleeve; and at the close of the year he captured the Abigail, Danish national cutter, with a cargo of naval stores, from Frederickswarn bound to Copenhagen.
In 1814, the Hamadryad was employed on the Newfoundland station, from whence she towed the Paragon, a dismasted merchant ship, with a very valuable cargo, to Halifax. For this service, performed during a heavy gale of wind. Captain Chetham received the public thanks of the merchants to whom she was consigned. The Hamadryad returned home in Jan. 1815, and was paid off at Woolwich on the 7th of the following month.
Captain Chetham’s last appointment was, May 1816, to the Leander 60, fitting for the flag of Rear-Admiral Milne, commander-in-chief on the Halifax station. The cause of that ship being afterwards placed under the orders of Lord ​mouth may not be generally known, and we shall therefore state it.
On his return from the coast of Barbary, in June 1816, Lord Exmouth found that government had determined to chastise the Algerines for their renewed aggressions, and that he had been selected to command the expedition destined against their capital. Having re-hoisted his flag, his lordship went on board the Boyne and every other ship of his former squadron, in order to procure men for the intended service; but, astonishing as it may appear, the total number of volunteers did not exceed seven or eight! Upon hearing this, Captain Chetham immediately waited upon the noble Admiral, and offered the services of the Leander and her crew, stating that he was confident his men would go any where with him. It is almost needless to add, that this spirited offer was thankfully accepted, and that, by return of post, an order was received from the Admiralty for the Leander to be put under Lord Exmouth’s immediate directions. The following minutes of the desperate battle in which she was consequently engaged are copied from her log-book, for the purpose of shewing in what a dangerous situation she was placed on the memorable 27th Aug. 1816:
“At day-light, observed the city of Algiers bearing W.S.W. At eight, light airs inclining to calm. Observed a French frigate working out of the bay. H.M.S. Severn hoisted a flag of truce, and despatched a boat towards the city. At ten, hoisted out all the boats, and prepared them for service. At noon, the French frigate joined company. Observed the Severn’s boat pulling out from the city, P.M. at 2-30, Lord Exmouth made the general signal, “Are you ready?” which was immediately answered, “Ready.” He then made the signal to bear up – bore up, Leander within her own length of the commander-in-chief standing in for the mole, observed the enemy’s batteries crowded with men, and their gun-boats prepared to board. At 2-40, clewed up our sails, following the motions of the commander-in-chief, who, at 2-45, anchored abreast of the Mole, and within half pistol-shot. At 2-47, Leander anchored in her station, close a-head of the Queen Charlotte, in five fathoms water, when the enemy opened a most tremendous fire, which was instantly returned by the broadsides of the Queen Charlotte and Leander, the fleet anchoring in the stations assigned them, and opening a vigorous fire. Observed that our fire had totally destroyed the enemy’s gun-boats and row-galleys, and defeated their intention ​of boarding. The battle now raged with great fury, officers and men falling very fast. At 3-50, an officer of the Hebrus came from the commander-in-chief, with orders to cease firing, to allow the enemy’s frigate moored across the Mole to be set on fire, which was done in a gallant style by a boat from the Queen Charlotte. At 3-55, a vigorous firing was recommenced on both sides. Our flat boats throwing rockets with good effect, some magazines were observed to explode. At 4-10, the enemy’s frigate burning with great rapidity, and drifting near us, the commander-in-chief sent an officer to direct us to haul out clear of her. At 4-15, the commander-in-chief made the signal for barges and pinnaces. Sent our boats to Queen Charlotte, under the command of Lieutenant (George Mitford) Monke. At 4-30, Lieutenant Monke returned, with orders from the commander-in-chief to keep the boats in readiness to assist the Leander. Perceiving the ship on fire to be drifting past us, kept our station. At 6-30, observed the city on fire in several places, and the Mole-head and other batteries near us almost demolished; the enemy re-mounting guns, we continuing a smart cannonade. At seven, found the batteries abreast of us to slacken, but we were greatly cut up from batteries on the starboard bow. Run a hawser to Severn, and hove our broadside to bear on them. At 7-26, the whole of the enemy’s ships in the Mole were observed to be on fire; our masts, yards, sails, and rigging, at this period, so entirely cut to pieces, as to prevent us, if necessary, setting a sail on the ship; officers and men falling fast, and a great proportion already killed and wounded; but our fire continued with unabated fury; enemy’s fire considerably slackened; ships on fire drifting near us, hauled on our spring fast to Severn, but found it shot away; made it fast again, and cut the small bower, to haul out of the way of the ships on fire. At 9-45, the fleet hauling and towing out; but from the state of the masts, sails, and rigging, found our own exertions ineffectual to haul or tow out; our hawser, which was fast to Severn, being gone, and no other ship near us. Lowered the gig to send Lieutenant (Thomas) Sanders, to inform Lord Exmouth of our situation, but the boat was sunk, and the jolly boat, which that officer and crew then embarked in, was also sunk a short distance from the ship. The crew being picked up by the flat-boat, she proceeded to the commander-in-chief, who immediately ordered assistance to be sent to us. At 10-30, cut the stern cables, boats towing; made another hawser fast to the Severn, which, with a light air off the shore, enabled us to move out slowly, and clear the ships on fire. Enemy re-commenced a heavy fire of musketry upon us; fired grape and cannister occasionally to dislodge his small-arm men. At 1 1-25, ceased firing, the ship drawing fast out of the bay. Light breezes with thunder and lightning. At mid-night answered the signal for the fleet to anchor.”
On this glorious occasion, the Leander is said to have expended 22,800 pounds of gunpowder, 4116 round shot, and ​an ample proportion of grape and cannister. Her loss consisted of 17 persons killed, and 118 wounded.
We have already stated that Lord Exmouth was created a Viscount for his brilliant achievement; that Rear-Admiral Milne was made a K.C.B., and that the bearer of the duplicate despatches, Captain James Brisbane, was knighted, in consequence of so brilliant a victory. Captains Ekins, Aylmer, Wise, Maitland, Paterson, and Coode, also, were nominated Companions of the Bath; but Captains Brace, Palmer, and Chetham, having the C.B. already attached to their names, were not honored with any fresh mark of distinction, except that of receiving the thanks of Parliament, in common with their brother officers who were otherwise rewarded. The cause thereof has been stated at p. 261 of our second volume. They had the satisfaction, however, of being informed by Viscount Melville, that the Prince Regent was “fully aware of their meritorious conduct off Algiers,” and that H.R.H. duly appreciated “the skill, valour, and perseverance with which the ships under their command were fought in that long and arduous conflict.”
The Leander subsequently proceeded to her original destination, from whence she returned with Sir David Milne, at the expiration of that officer’s command. The following is an exact copy of a letter which was put into Captain Chetham’s hands, by the Secretary to Neptune, when crossing the tropic, in 1819:
“To Edward Chetham, Esq. C.B. Captain of H.M.S. Leander.
L.S. “We send this greeting to thee from our most potent Kingdom, considering thee as one who has had our must peculiar regard and esteem from thy earliest entrance into our maratime affairs. We have not lost sight of thee during the glorious struggle thou didst aid and assist thy country (our special care) to maintain her liberty during a series of years in the midst of sanguinary warfare; but much more hast thou attracted our further regard when turbulent Europe rested from the alarms that by turns distracted her bosom and all was peace; when thou (our favourite) didst ​manfully step forth and offer thy services to extirpate slavery from the barbarian’s land, that wish of thine from our court was heard, and met its due applause; but when we heard how nobly thou didst contest the heathen, then was our joy complete, and shortly may’st thou return to thy Native Shore (our much loved isle) and meet the reward thy merit so transcendantly deserves. But now unto our state affairs. The ship thou dost command having not for a number of years crossed these West-Indian territories of mine, at least so my catalogue informs me, which likewise points to another glorious achievement in which thou didst display a most prominent feature – I shall not dwell on subjects, I mean that of la Seine, and le Vengeance; you find me a little digressing, but old men (Neptune) are fond sometimes of encouraging young men who are worthy thereof. I shall again allude to my catalogue, which gives mc information that thou hast under thy command several young officers, seamen, and marines, who have never entered these my dominions before. I shall now insist upon their complying with a custom, which has been time out of mind, but shall request your approbation, for I shall never consider those my children who have never been initiated into the mysteries of the Nautica Magica.
“Given under our hand and seal, at our Tropical Court, this 12th day of February, Anno Domino, 1819.
(Signed)“Neptune.”
Captain Chetham married, June 1810, Margaret, youngest daughter of the late Peter Dean, of the Bahamas, Esq. and has issue five sons and three daughters. Two of his brothers are Lieutenant-Colonels; Richard, in the 47th regiment, and John, in the 61st. Mrs. Chetham’s sisters are united to Major-General Cuming, late of the 47th; and Captain John Serrell, R.N.
Agent.– A. C. Marsh, Esq.
* ↑ Colonel Strode successively commanded the Supplementary Somerset Militia, and the Bath volunteers. He died in 1807, leaving his estate to Captain Chetham’s eldest brother, who assumed the surname of Strode in addition to his own patronymic; and is at present Colonel of the local militia. The Strodes are descended from Wm. Strode, Esq., one of the five proscribed members of the House of Commons, in the reign of Charles I.
* ↑ See Vol. I., note † at p. 568.
* ↑ The succours sent from Jamaica to St. Domingo retrieved the affairs of the planters; and so strong was their gratitude to the English, and their indignation at the conduct of the National Assembly, to whom they justly ascribed the negro insurrection, that a general wish was expressed throughout the colony, to shake off the authority of the latter, and seek a remedy for their distresses under the protection of Great Britain. The English cabinet, however, instead of following the example of France in a former instance, did not attempt to profit by this disposition of the planters, although the mother country was then in too distracted a state to have effectually opposed any attack. The atrocities committed, both by the French and the blacks, during the civil war in St. Domingo, have been briefly noticed at pp. 604–606 of our first volume.
* ↑ See Vol. I. pp. 466, 251, and 252.
* ↑ See id., note at p. 340.
* ↑ See Vol. I. p. 681. N.B. La Seine had previously been employed on the coast of Africa.
* ↑ The Nehrung, or Frisch Nerung, is a tongue of land extending from the main branch of the Vistula nearly to Pillau, and separating Fairwater from the Baltic sea.
* ↑ The Falcon, of 14 guns, was lying in Dantzic bay when Captain Chetham arrived there from Elsineur, but she never entered Fairwater haven, nor were any of the Sally’s stores ever put on board that vessel, as has been stated by other writers. Captain Robert Clephane, of the Charles, was ordered to remove his brig thither, on the 24th April, to protect fort Weeickselmunde in case the Sally should go up the Vistula again, and he appears to have rendered himself very useful during the whole of the operations in that quarter.
* ↑ Captains Christopher Strachey, Reuben Caillaud Mangin, and Alexander Richard Mackenzie; of the Dauntless, Valorous, and Combatant.
* ↑ Three Danish luggers, of 2 guns each, came out from Rodlye to support le Pilotin, but retreated on the advance of the British boats.
* ↑ See Nav. Chron. Vol. XXXVI, p. 436.