Charles Middleton, 1st Baron Barham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Admiral The Right Honourable
The Lord Barham
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Portrait by Isaac Pocock
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| Member of Parliament for Rochester |
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| In office 1784–1790 |
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| Preceded by | George Finch-Hatton |
| Succeeded by | George Best |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 14 October 1726 Leith, Midlothian, Scotland |
| Died | 17 June 1813 (aged 86) Barham Court, Teston, Kent, England |
| Known for | Abolitionism |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch/service | Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1741–1813 |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Commands | HMS Arundel HMS Emerald HMS Adventure |
| Battles/wars | Seven Years' War American War of Independence French Revolutionary Wars Napoleonic Wars |
Admiral Charles Middleton, 1st Baron Barham (born 14 October 1726 – died 17 June 1813) was an important officer in the Royal Navy and a politician. He is best known for his efforts to end the slave trade.
He served in major wars like the Seven Years' War and the American War of Independence. Later, he became the Comptroller of the Navy, which meant he managed the navy's ships and supplies. He then rose to be the First Naval Lord and finally the First Lord of the Admiralty, the top leader of the British Navy.
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Early Life and Family
Charles Middleton was born in Leith, Midlothian, Scotland. His father, Robert, worked as a customs collector. His mother, Helen, came from a naval family.
On 21 December 1761, Charles married Margaret Gambier. They lived at Barham Court in Teston, Kent. They had one daughter, Diana, who later became the 2nd Baroness Barham. Charles and Margaret also helped raise Margaret's nephew, James, who later became the 1st Baron Gambier.
Middleton joined the Royal Navy in 1741 when he was about 15 years old. He started as a captain's servant. He worked his way up, becoming a lieutenant in 1745.
During the Seven Years' War (which started in 1754), Middleton served on HMS Anson. He helped capture French ships. He was promoted to post-captain in 1758. In 1761, while commanding HMS Emerald, he captured many French ships and privateers in the West Indies. This made him popular with British merchants.
After 1763, Middleton spent about twelve years living as a country gentleman. He farmed land near his home.
When the American War of Independence began in 1775, Middleton returned to duty. He was put in charge of a guardship. In 1778, he became the Comptroller of the Navy. This was a very important job where he managed the navy's ships, supplies, and dockyards. He held this role for twelve years.
In 1784, Charles Middleton became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Rochester. He was promoted to rear admiral in 1787. He resigned from his Comptroller role in 1790, feeling frustrated with the politics.
Even after retiring from active service, he continued to receive promotions. He became a vice admiral in 1793 and a full admiral in 1795. In 1805, at 79 years old, he was appointed First Lord of the Admiralty, the highest position in the navy. He was also given the title Baron Barham. He retired in 1806 and passed away seven years later at his home.
Fighting to End Slavery
Besides his naval career, Lord Barham played a key role in ending the slave trade in the British Empire. He was inspired by a friend, Rev. James Ramsay. Ramsay had seen the terrible treatment of enslaved people in the Caribbean.
In 1784, Ramsay wrote a book about the slave trade. This book deeply affected Lady Middleton, Charles's wife. Charles felt he couldn't fight the issue in Parliament himself. So, he suggested that a young MP named William Wilberforce might take on the cause.
In 1787, Wilberforce met Ramsay and Thomas Clarkson at Barham Court, Middleton's home. They also met other supporters of abolition, known as the "Testonites." These people were working to end the slave trade.
Barham Court became a meeting place for planning the campaign. Lord and Lady Barham hosted many meetings with Wilberforce, Clarkson, and others. They planned how to present laws to Parliament to stop the slave trade.
While Middleton didn't lead the public fight, he was very important behind the scenes. He helped organize and support the movement. His strong religious beliefs motivated his efforts to end slavery. The slave trade was finally abolished in 1807, and slavery itself in 1833.
Legacy
Charles Middleton was a very important leader in the Royal Navy from 1778 to 1807. He was known for being strict but also for his modern ideas. As Comptroller of the Navy and First Lord of the Admiralty, he greatly improved how the navy was supplied and built. He also helped fix problems with efficiency. His work helped Britain win important naval battles during the Napoleonic Wars.
Three Royal Navy warships have been named Barham in his honor. This includes the battleship Barham launched in 1914. A building at HMS Nelson in Portsmouth is also named after him.
Fictional Portrayals
Lord Barham appears as a character in some books. He is in Treason's Tide by Robert Wilton. He is also in Naomi Novik's fantasy series, Temeraire, in the second book, Throne of Jade. In this book, he helps settle a disagreement between China and Britain. His connection to William Wilberforce and the movement to end slavery is also mentioned.
See also
