Robert Stopford (Royal Navy officer)
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Sir Robert Stopford GCB, GCMG (5 February 1768–25 June 1847), was a distinguished officer in the Royal Navy whose career spanned over 60 years, from the first war with revolutionary France to the Syrian War.
Stopford was the third son of James Stopford, 2nd Earl of Courtown, and his wife Mary (née Powys), and became a Lieutenant in 1785. He was promoted to captain at the age of 22 and fought at the Battle of the Glorious First of June in 1794, commanding the frigate HMS Aquilon (32). He became a Colonel of Marines in November 1805 and received a gold medal for his conduct at the Battle of San Domingo in 1806, when he commanded the ship of the line HMS Spencer (74). He took part in the Rio and Copenhagen expeditions of 1806-07, attacked Rochefort in 1808, was Commander-in-Chief at the Cape of Good Hope in 1808 and reduced Java in 1811. He became a Rear-Admiral in 1830. His last active post, in his early seventies, was as commander-in-chief of the Mediterranean fleet during the Syrian War against the forces of Mehemet Ali. As Vice-Admiral on board HMS Princess Charlotte (100) and subsequently, Phoenix he was in command of the combined fleet (British, Turkish, and Austrian ships) during the bombardment of Acre on 3 November 1840. The following year he became Governor of the Royal Naval Hospital at Greenwich, with the rank of Admiral.
Stopford married Mary, daughter of Robert Fanshawe, in 1809. Their eldest son Robert Fanshawe Stopford (1811-1891) also rose to the rank of Admiral while their second son James John Stopford (1817-1868) became a Vice-Admiral. Stopford died in June 1847, aged 79. His wife survived him by almost twenty years and died in June 1866.
| Honorary titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir George Martin |
Rear-Admiral of the United Kingdom 1834–1847 |
Succeeded by Sir T. Byam Martin |
| Preceded by Sir Davidge Gould |
Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom 1847 |
Succeeded by Sir George Martin |
