Robert Redmill facts for kids

Captain Robert Redmill (born around 1765 – died February 1819) was a brave British naval officer. He served during two big conflicts: the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars. He is best known for commanding the ship Polyphemus during the famous Battle of Trafalgar. Even though he joined the fight a bit late, he became famous for saving the badly damaged British flagship, Victory, from sinking after the battle. A huge storm hit, and his quick thinking saved the day.

Robert Redmill: A Naval Hero

Not much is known about Robert Redmill's early life, not even his exact birth date. We know he became a lieutenant on December 24, 1783. People usually became lieutenants around age 18. This suggests he was born in 1765, but we can't be completely sure.

Early Naval Career

Redmill was a steady officer. He got promoted when the French Revolutionary Wars began. In 1795, he became a commander and took charge of a fireship called Comet. A fireship was an old ship filled with flammable materials. It was set on fire and sent towards enemy ships to burn them.

He was part of the Naval Battle of Hyères Islands in March 1795. However, he didn't do anything special in that battle and wasn't mentioned in the official reports.

On December 16, 1796, he was promoted again to post-captain. This was a big step up in the navy. But he didn't get a new ship until 1799. Then, he was given command of Delft. This was a Dutch ship that the British had captured. It had 64 guns but was not built very well. It was mostly used to carry troops.

In 1801, Redmill and his ship helped invade Egypt. They landed soldiers from the Foot Guards at Aboukir Bay. For his important work transporting troops, the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, Selim III, gave Redmill a large gold medal.

Joining the Battle of Trafalgar

In 1805, Redmill was given command of the Polyphemus. His ship joined Admiral Nelson's fleet near Cadiz, Spain. The Polyphemus was an old ship and not very big for a major battle. So, Redmill wasn't expected to play a huge role in the upcoming fight.

On October 21, 1805, the famous Battle of Trafalgar began. The Polyphemus lined up with other British ships in Collingwood's group. It was at the very back of the line. This was because it wasn't a fast ship and they didn't want it to slow down the more powerful ships.

The Polyphemus arrived late to the battle. But it still joined the fight! It exchanged fire with the large Spanish flagship, Principe de Asturias, and the French ship Berwick. These enemy ships were already badly damaged by other British ships when Redmill's Polyphemus engaged them.

Saving HMS Victory

Redmill and the old Polyphemus truly became heroes after the battle. During the fight, the Polyphemus had only six sailors injured and very little damage to the ship itself. This meant it didn't need repairs. Instead, it could share its supplies with other ships that were in desperate need. It also offered to tow ships that had lost their masts and couldn't sail on their own.

The British flagship, Victory, was one of these damaged ships. A week of terrible storms followed the battle. During this time, Redmill carefully guided his superior ship back to Gibraltar. He used a huge towrope, which was very difficult to attach. One end was tied to the front of the Victory, and the other end was tied to Redmill's own cabin on the Polyphemus. His skill and determination saved the Victory from sinking.

Later Life and Recognition

After the storm, Redmill continued to serve for another year. But he had been suffering from a serious illness for many years. This illness forced him to retire and return to England in 1806.

Back home, he was celebrated as a hero. However, his health continued to get worse, and he couldn't find work. On June 4, 1815, he was given a special award: he was made a Companion in The Most Honourable Order of the Bath. This was a high honor for his service.

Robert Redmill passed away in Stevenage in February 1819. Sadly, his grave at St Nicholas Church has been lost over time. Because of this, many details about his final years are also unknown.