Charles John Moore Mansfield facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles John Moore Mansfield
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| Born | 15 November 1760 Stoke Damerel, Devonport, Devon, England |
| Died | 23 April 1813 (aged 52) Rochester, Kent, England |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1772–1807 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Commands held | HMS Megaera HMS Sphynx HMS Andromache HMS Dryad HMS Minotaur |
| Battles/wars | American War of Independence
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| Awards | Naval Gold Medal |
Captain Charles John Moore Mansfield (1760–1813) was a brave British naval officer. He served in the Royal Navy during three big wars: the American Revolutionary War, the French Revolutionary Wars, and the Napoleonic Wars. Even though he had an exciting military career, Mansfield was known for being quite private and not seeking attention in society.
Contents
Charles John Moore Mansfield was born on November 15, 1760, in Stoke Damerel, which is now part of Plymouth, England. His father worked at the Plymouth Dockyard.
When he was just eleven years old, in 1772, Charles joined the navy. He started as a Captain's Servant on HMS Kent.
Adventures in the American Revolutionary War
In 1775, as the American Revolutionary War began, Mansfield moved to HMS Foudroyant. He quickly became a Midshipman.
He then joined the frigate Diamond and sailed to North America, where he saw his first battles.
At only 18 years old, in November 1778, Mansfield was made a lieutenant. This was two years younger than the usual age! He joined the large warship HMS Albion.
In 1779, he moved to HMS Sultan. He fought in the Battle of Grenada and the Battle of Martinique.
Later, he became first lieutenant of the frigate HMS Fortunée. This ship was present at the difficult Battle of the Chesapeake.
In January 1782, Mansfield was part of the Battle of Frigate Bay. During this battle, he bravely went behind enemy lines in the dark. He gathered important information from the British fort on Brimstone Hill.
Quiet Peacetime and Family Life
Mansfield returned to England at the end of 1782. He served on a few more ships during peacetime.
On August 21, 1788, he married Anna Spong in London. They had three children: Seymour Herbert, Mary, and James Hawkins Hughes. Sadly, Seymour died young at age 12.
During these years, Mansfield lived a quiet life. He didn't keep journals or records, and he wasn't one to seek fame in society like some other naval officers.
In 1790, as new wars seemed likely, he returned to active duty. He served on HMS Lion, then HMS Assistance, and finally HMS Stately.
Fighting in the French Revolutionary Wars
When war was officially declared in 1793, Mansfield was promoted to Commander. He took charge of the sloop HMS Megaera.
In 1794, he became a Post-Captain, a very important rank. He was then given command of HMS Sphynx.
Soon after, he moved to HMS Andromache. While commanding this ship, he had a fierce battle with a large Algerian corsair (a pirate ship) that had 24 guns. Mansfield and his crew captured the ship after a tough fight.
In 1799, he transferred to HMS Dryad. He stayed with this ship until peace was declared in 1802.
Heroism in the Napoleonic Wars
After a short period of peace, Mansfield was given command of HMS Minotaur. This was a famous ship that had fought in the Battle of the Nile.
Soon after, he helped capture the French frigate Franchise in the English Channel. He also briefly served as Admiral Collingwood's flag-captain on the same ship.
Two years later, Mansfield was a key figure at the famous Battle of Trafalgar. Even though his ship, the Minotaur, was slow to get into the battle, Mansfield played a very active role. He helped defend Admiral Nelson's ship, the Victory, from enemy attacks. He also successfully forced the surrender of the Spanish ship Neptuno. His ship had 25 casualties during the battle.
The Minotaur stayed near Cadiz for another year. Mansfield returned to Britain in late 1806, suffering from severe rheumatism (a painful joint condition).
In 1807, he was the flag captain for Rear Admiral William Essington at the bombardment of Copenhagen. He received prize money from the captured ships. However, his health problems forced him to retire from active service at the end of that year.
Later Years and Passing
Charles John Moore Mansfield passed away in Rochester, Kent in 1813, after a period of illness. He was 52 years old.
A memorial was placed in St Margaret's Church in Rochester to remember him. It describes his life and achievements, including his 40 years of service, his capture of the Algerian frigate, and his role in capturing the Spanish Neptuno at the Battle of Trafalgar. It notes that he retired due to fatigue and illness.
