Charles Tyler facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles Tyler
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| Born | 1760 Cavan |
| Died | 28 September 1835 Gloucester |
| Buried |
St Nicholas Church, St Nicholas, Cardiff, Wales
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| Allegiance |  United Kingdom ofGreat Britain and Ireland |
| Service/ |
 Royal Navy |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Commands held | HMS Meleager |
| Battles/wars |
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Admiral Sir Charles Tyler (1760 – 28 September 1835) was a brave naval officer in the British Royal Navy. He became famous during the Napoleonic Wars as a captain who fought in important battles like the Battle of Copenhagen (1801) and the Battle of Trafalgar. He was even known as one of Nelson's trusted "Band of Brothers."
Contents
Charles Tyler was born in County Cavan, Ireland in 1760. His father was Captain Peter Tyler, a soldier, and his mother was Anna Maria Roper. Charles's father passed away when he was only three years old.
In 1771, when he was eleven, Charles joined the Royal Navy. He started as a "Captain's servant boy" on a ship called HMS Barfleur (1768). This was a common way for young boys to begin their naval careers. He quickly moved up the ranks, becoming a "midshipman" (a junior officer) within two years. This quick promotion suggests his captain thought highly of him.
Charles continued to rise through the ranks during the American Revolutionary War. By 1779, he was a lieutenant, and by 1782, he was a commander. He kept his position even during peacetime and became a "post-captain" in 1790.
Fighting in the French Wars
When the French Revolutionary Wars began, Captain Tyler was in charge of a fast warship called HMS Meleager. He took part in the Siege of Toulon and the invasion of Corsica. It was during these campaigns that he first met the famous Admiral Horatio Nelson. Tyler was even there when Nelson lost an eye during the Siege of Calvi.
Later, Tyler moved to another ship, HMS Diadem. He was part of the Naval Battle of Genoa (1795). After that, he spent several years fighting against Barbary pirates in the frigate Aigle. Sadly, Aigle was accidentally wrecked. Tyler was found not to blame for the loss of his ship.
He was then given command of a large warship called HMS Warrior. He commanded this ship near Cádiz before returning to England. In 1801, he fought under Admiral Nelson at the Battle of Copenhagen (1801) and was praised for his brave actions.
During a time of peace, Tyler was in charge of a group called the Sea Fencibles, who defended the coast. But in 1803, he was back at sea, commanding the powerful 80-gun ship HMS Tonnant. This ship had been captured by Nelson at the Battle of the Nile. Tonnant was a big, modern ship with many guns. Tyler trained his crew very well, making Tonnant one of the most effective ships in the fleet.
Nelson specifically asked for Tyler to join him for the blockade of Cadiz in 1805. This meant Tyler would be part of the famous Battle of Trafalgar. Before the battle, Tyler had to travel to Naples because his son was in trouble. He had gotten into debt and was facing issues. Unknown to Tyler at the time, Nelson himself helped his son by paying off his debts and getting him back into the Navy, though with a serious warning.
The Battle of Trafalgar
At the Battle of Trafalgar, Tyler's ship, Tonnant, was positioned near Collingwood's flagship, HMS Royal Sovereign. Because of its forward position, Tonnant was quickly and heavily involved in the fighting.
Tonnant first made the Spanish ship Monarca surrender. Then, it crashed into the French ship Algésiras, and the two ships became tangled together. This led to a fierce fight with close-range cannon fire and "boarding actions," where sailors would try to board the enemy ship. During this intense fighting, Tyler was shot in the thigh, and the French Admiral Magon was killed. Once Algésiras finally surrendered, Tonnant, even though it was badly damaged, was still able to attack and capture another Spanish ship, San Juan Nepomuceno, as the battle ended.
After the battle, Tonnant struggled to get back to Gibraltar with over 70 injured sailors, including Tyler. Other ships had to help it. Tonnant couldn't stop Algésiras from escaping to Cadiz Harbour after its crew fought back. However, San Juan Nepomuceno did make it to Gibraltar thanks to the efforts of both its Spanish crew and the British sailors who had taken it over.
Tyler briefly returned to London to celebrate and recover from his injury. He received thanks from Parliament and many awards. He then returned to his ship in the Mediterranean Sea. In 1808, he oversaw the surrender of the Russian fleet at Lisbon.
Later Career and Family
Tyler continued to serve and received more honors. In 1812, he took command of the Cape of Good Hope Station in Cape Town. After the wars, he was promoted to "rear admiral." In 1816, he became a member of the Order of the Bath, a special honor. He was later named "Vice Admiral."
After becoming a full Admiral, he no longer commanded ships at sea. He retired and was given the highest honor, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, before he passed away in September 1835 in Gloucester. This was just two months after his wife, Margaret, died. They were buried together in St Nicholas Church in Glamorgan, where a marble monument still stands in their memory.
Admiral Tyler was married twice. His first wife, Anne Rice, had three children with him but passed away early. He then married Margaret Leach, and they also had three children. One of their sons, George Tyler, followed his father into the navy and became a Vice-Admiral. It was George for whom Admiral Nelson had cleared debts before the Battle of Trafalgar. George's daughter, Caroline Tyler, married the Earl of Dunraven and Mount Earl and inherited Adare Manor in Ireland. Her son, Colonel Windham Wyndham-Quin, later wrote a biography about his famous great-grandfather, titled 'Sir Charles Tyler – Admiral of the White'. In 2005, Admiral Tyler's sword was sold at an auction for a large sum of money. The Tyler family had members living in both Wales and Ireland, with many becoming high-ranking officers in the army and navy over several generations.
Images for kids
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Admiral Sir Charles Tyler
