Who was Frederick Marryat?
Naval Officer and Novelist.
Date and Place of Birth:
10th July 1792, London, England.
Family Background:
The son of a Member of Parliament and colonial
agent for the island of Grenada. His mother was of German descent.His
mother came from a family of prominent American loyalists
Education:
Private schooling at Holmwood School, Ponder's
End, Enfield Fellow classmate was Charles
Babbage. Entered the Royal Navy as a Midshipman under Lord Cochrane
at the age of 14.
Chronology/Biography of Captain Marryat:
1806: Enters the
Royal Navy at the age of fourteen as a Midshipman on board HMS Imperieuse.
This frigate led by Lord Cochrane who was to be an inspiration to
many writers including Marryat and is said to be the model for Forester's
Horatio Hornblower.
1808: Sails from
Malta to cruise off Spain and the Balearic Islands. Was involved
in fighting with other military vessels and the capture of nearly
fifty merchant ships. In July the ships company captured the Castle
of Mongat and took the French garrison as prisoners.
1809: Marryat caught
malaria and was returned to ENgland aboard HMS Victorious.
1810: Served in the
Mediterranean on board the Flagship HMS Centaur.
1811: Sailed the
seas of the West Indies and North America on HMS Aeolus and in November
HMS SPartan.
1813: Still in the
West Indies but aboard HMS Espiegle.
1814: Promoted as
a Lieutenant and serves aboard HMS Newcastle under Captain Lord
George Stuart fighting American privateers.
1815: Marryat served
aboard the sloop HMS Beaver off St Helena to guard against attempts
to rescue Napoleon Bonaparte. His health was still poor and he left
the ship in Madeira. He became interested in scientific study and
amongst other things he invented a lifeboat which earned him a Gold
Medal from the Royal Humane Society. He was promoted to the rank
of Commander in June.
1819: Elected as
a Fellow of the Royal Society of London.
The House in Manchester Square, Central London where Captain
Marryat lived.
(© Anthony Blagg)
1820: Now in command
of HMS Beaver and HMS Rosario on which he carried the dispatches
to ENgland of the death of Napoleon. He made a sketch of the former
Emperor on his death bed which was latter published as a lithograph
and sold in England as well as France. Much of his other work at
the time was trying to thwart smuggling across the English Channel.
1824: He fought in
the First Burmese War and worked out of Rangoon. He went on an expedition
up the Bassein River which resulted in large losses of men due to
disease.
1825: He was appointed
to command HMS Tees.
1826: Marryat returns
to England.
1829: He commanded
the frigate HMS Ariadne as a Captain around the waters of Madeira
and the Canaries doing research work on undersea rock shoals.
1830: He perceived
his work at sea now pointless exercise and resigned his command
to take up writing full time.
1832: Marryat began
to edit the Metropolitan Magazine in which several of his own novels
were first serialised.
1833: Awarded the
French Legion D'Honneur.
1836: Moved to live
in Brussels. One of his best know works "Mr Midshipman Easy"
was first published in this year.
1837: He was involved
in Lower Canada when a rebellion broke out and fought with the British
forces to quell it. He then traveled around Canada and the United
States.
1838: Birth of his
daughter Florence who was later to become a popular writer in her
own right, as well as a opera singer.
1839: Marryat now
back in London where his literary circle of friends included Charles
Dickens as well as Samuel Rogers.
1841: Marryat now
turned his attention to writing children's books as they sold well
and "Masterman Ready" was published in this year.
1843: He moved out
of the city and finally settled at Manor Cottage in Langham, Norfolk
where he continued writing and tending his small farm.
1847: Death of his
eldest son Frederick who drowned in the loss of a paddle frigate
the Avenger off the north coast of Africa.
Written Works:
- 1829:
"The Naval Officer, or Scenes in the Life and Adventures
of Frank Mildmay"
- 1830: “The King's
Own.”
- 1832: "Newton
Forster or, the Merchant Service"
- 1834: “Jacob
Faithful.” “Peter Simple”
- 1835: "The
Pacha of Many Tales"
- 1836:
“Japthet in Search of a Father.” “Mr. Midshipman Easy.” "The
Pirate". "The Three Cutters"
- 1837: "Snarleyyow,
or the Dog Fiend"
- 1839:
”The Phantom Ship.” "Diary in America"
- 1840: “Poor Jack”.
"Olla Podrida"
- 1841:
"Percival Keene"
- 1843: "Monsieur
Violet "
- 1845: "The
Mission, or Scenes in Africa"
- 1846:
“The Privateer's Man or One Hundred Years Ago.”
- 1847:
“The Children of the New Forest.”
- (1848): "The
Little Savage". "Valerie"
Marriage:
1819 to Catherine Sharp the daughter of the British
consul Sir Stephen Sharp.
Date and Place of Death:
9th August 1848, Langham, Norfolk, England.
Age at death:
56.
Site of Grave:
St. Andrew and St. Mary's Churchyard, Langham,
Norfolk, England.
Places of Interest:
NORFOLK:
Langham
