Charles Malcolm

For the Scottish legal librarian and historical author, seeCharles Alexander Malcolm.

Sir Charles Malcolm
Charles Malcolm, byGeorge Engleheart
Born	(1782-09-05)5 September 1782 Burnfoot,Dumfriesshire
Died	4 June 1851(1851-06-04)(aged 68) Brighton
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Navy
Years of service	1795–1851
Rank	Vice-Admiral
Commands held	HMSAlbatross HMSEurydice HMSRaisonnable HMSNarcissus HMSRhin HMSSibylle

Vice-AdmiralSir Charles Malcolm(5 September 1782 – 4 June 1851) was a ScottishRoyal Navyofficer.

Naval life

He was the tenth son of George Malcolm of Burnfoot, Dumfriesshire, youngest brother ofSir Pulteney MalcolmandSir John Malcolm,and was born at Burnfoot on 5 September 1782. In 1791, his name was put on the books of theVengeance,commanded by his uncle,Thomas Pasley,and in 1793 of thePenelope,of which his brother Pulteney was first lieutenant. He entered the Navy in 1795 on board theFox,then commissioned by his brother, with whom he went out to theEast Indies,and whom he followed to theSuffolk.He was promoted by the admiral to be lieutenant on that ship, 12 January 1799, and remained in her till 3 October 1801, when he was appointed acting commander of theAlbatrosssloop, a promotion which was confirmed by the admiralty to 28 May 1802.

In 1803, Malcolm came home acting captain of theEurydice,and on his arrival in England found that he had been previously promoted by the admiralty on 29 December 1802. In 1804 he commanded theRaisonnablein theNorth Sea;and from 1806 to 1809 theNarcissusfrigate, actively employed on the coast of France and Portugal; atOportoin 1807 he was able to preserve British property from falling into the hands of the French.

At the beginning of 1809, Malcolm went out to theWest Indies,and in April took part in the capture of theSaintes islands.On his return to England he was moved into theRhin,in which during 1812 and 1813, he was employed in co-operating with the patriots on the north coast of Spain.

In 1813, he went out to the West Indies with convoy; in 1814, he was cruising on the coast of Brazil; and on 18 July 1815, having been joined by the frigatesMenelausandHavannah,sloopsFlyandFerret,and schoonerSealark,he landed a party of seamen and marines at Corrijou (Koréjou, east ofAbervrachon the coast of Brittany), stormed the battery, and brought out of the harbour three small armed vessels and a convoy under their protection. The action was the last of its kind during that war.

In September 1817, he fitted out theSibylle,as flag-captain toSir Home Pophamin the West Indies, from which station he invalided in February 1819. From 1822 to 1827 he commanded one or other of the yachts,William and MaryandRoyal Charlotte,in attendance onRichard Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley,lord-lieutenant of Ireland,by whom he wasknighted.

In November 1827, he was appointed superintendent of theBombay Marine,then reorganised and placed under new regulations, which required it to have a captain of the Royal Navy at its head: Malcolm arrived atBombayin June 1828. On 1 May 1830, its name was officially changed to "the Indian Navy"; it undertook police duties, and ran a school of surveyors. Malcolm held the post for ten years. The establishment ofsteam navigationin theRed Seawas also largely due to his exertions.

Malcolm was promoted to be rear-admiral on 10 January 1837, and to be vice-admiral on 28 April 1847, but had no further service.

Later life

During his later years he gave attention to the organisation of charitable institutions. He also served on the council of theRoyal Geographical Society. He died atBrighton4 June 1851, and was buried there.

Family

Malcolm was twice married: first, in 1808, to his cousin Magdalene, daughter ofCharles Pasley,his mother's brother; and secondly, in 1829, to Elmira Riddell, youngest daughter of Major-general Shaw. He had issue by both marriages.

See also

• O'Byrne, William Richard (1849)."Malcolm, Charles".A Naval Biographical Dictionary.John Murray– viaWikisource.

References

Attribution

This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain:Laughton, John Knox (1893). "Malcolm, Charles".InLee, Sidney(ed.).Dictionary of National Biography.Vol. 35. London: Smith, Elder & Co.