Home Riggs Popham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir Home Riggs Popham
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1783 portrait in the uniform of a lieutenant, by an unknown artist
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| Born | 12 October 1762 Gibraltar |
| Died | 11 September 1820 (aged 57) Cheltenham |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 Royal Navy |
| Rank | Rear admiral |
| Commands held | Cape of Good Hope Station Jamaica Station |
| Battles/wars | French Revolutionary Wars Napoleonic Wars |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath |
Rear Admiral Sir Home Riggs Popham (born 12 October 1762 – died 20 September 1820) was an important commander in the Royal Navy. He fought against the French during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. He is best known for his scientific achievements, especially for creating a special signal code. The Royal Navy started using this code in 1803.
Contents
Childhood and Education
Home Popham was born in Gibraltar on 12 October 1762. He was the fifteenth child of Joseph Popham, who was a British consul in Morocco. His mother, Mary, sadly died soon after he was born. His stepmother, Catherine, helped raise him and his many siblings.
In 1769, his father had to leave his job as a consul after a disagreement with the Moroccan Emperor. The family then moved back to England. Home went to Westminster School in London for three years.
In 1776, Home Popham began studying at Trinity College, Cambridge. However, he left his studies in 1778 to join the Royal Navy. He started as an able seaman on a ship called HMS Hyaena.
Popham served during the American War of Independence. In 1781, he was captured by the French but was soon set free. In 1783, he became a lieutenant. For a while, he worked on mapping the coast of Africa.
Between 1787 and 1793, he worked in trade in the Eastern Sea. He bought his own ship, Etrusco, and carried goods. During this time, he also made maps and helped the British East India Company. However, his ship was later seized because he was carrying certain goods and breaking the East India Company's trade rules. He faced legal problems and lost a lot of money, but he later received some payment for his losses.
Service in the Wars with France
Working with the Army
While his legal issues were ongoing, Popham returned to his naval career. He worked with the army in Flanders, helping with inland navigation. He gained the trust of the Duke of York. Thanks to this support, Popham was promoted to commander in 1794 and then to captain in 1795. For several years, he worked closely with British and allied troops.
In 1798, Popham helped create the Sea Fencibles, a group of coastal defenders. On 8 May 1798, he led an expedition to Ostend to destroy important gates on a canal. His troops succeeded in their mission but were later surrounded and had to surrender.
It was during this time, perhaps while he was a prisoner, that Popham started working on a new system for naval signals. Before this, communication between ships was difficult. He wanted to create a standard way for ships to send messages using flags.
Popham tested his new signal system during the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801. He used two or three flags to represent numbers, and these numbers stood for different commands. This system allowed ships to communicate quickly without needing to send boats ashore. The First Lord of the Admiralty, Lord Spencer, encouraged him to publish his signal books. These new signals were very helpful to Admiral Nelson, especially at the Battle of Trafalgar, allowing him to share his battle plans secretly. Popham's signal books were printed many times after the battle.
Red Sea Expedition
In 1801, Popham took several army regiments to the Cape of Good Hope. He then sailed to the Red Sea to support General Baird's expedition to Egypt. Their goal was to help General Ralph Abercromby remove the French from Egypt.
During this expedition, one of the transport ships, Calcutta, was wrecked on the Egyptian coast. Popham, on his ship Romney, helped rescue most of the soldiers and crew.
Río de la Plata Expedition
In 1805, Prime Minister Pitt asked Popham to study military plans for the Spanish colonies. Popham believed that the people in Buenos Aires were unhappy with Spanish rule and would welcome British help.
In January 1806, after helping to take back the Cape of Good Hope Station from the Dutch, Popham led an expedition to Buenos Aires. He brought 1,500 soldiers. However, many soldiers became sick, leaving only 1,400 weakened men. The Spanish colonists did not want British rule and fought back, capturing the soldiers. Popham's ships attacked the city, but he was later called back to England. He faced a naval trial for leaving his post without permission, but he was still honored for his efforts to "open new markets."
Later Service and Honors
In 1806, Popham became a special assistant to the Duke of Gloucester. With a partner, John Goodhew, he published A General Code of Signals for the use of His Majesty's Navy. This updated system used twelve flags and a special pendant to create many different signals.
In 1807, he was made captain of the fleet for the Second Copenhagen Expedition. In 1809, he commanded HMS Venerable, fighting successfully against the French in Spain. By 1812, Popham's signal system was widely used throughout the Royal Navy.
From 1812 to 1813, he was stationed on the northern coast of Spain. He worked with Spanish guerrilla fighters to bother French troops and attack French forts. This helped Wellington as he moved through Spain.
Popham was promoted to rear admiral in 1814. He received the Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 1815 and a special gift from the Prince Regent in 1818. He served as the Commander-in-Chief of the Jamaica Station from 1817 to 1820.
Political Career
Home Popham also served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for several areas:
- Yarmouth from 1804 to 1806
- Shaftesbury from 1806 to 1807
- Ipswich from 1807 to 1812
Death and Legacy
Sir Home Riggs Popham died in Cheltenham on 11 September 1820, at the age of 57. He was buried in the churchyard of St Michael and All Angels in Sunninghill, Berkshire, near his home.
Popham was known as one of the most scientific sailors of his time. He did important survey work, mapping coastlines. His most famous contribution was the code using signal flags that the Admiralty adopted in 1803. This code was used for many years and is famously remembered for the signal "England expects that every man will do his duty" sent during the Battle of Trafalgar. It took some time for everyone to fully appreciate his system, but its brilliance was recognized.
See also
In Spanish: Home Riggs Popham para niños
