Frederick Chamier
Encyclopedia
Frederick Chamier was a novelist and naval
captain
.
He was the son of an Anglo-Indian official, John Ezechial Camier and his wife Georgiana, daughter of Vice-admiral Sir William Burnaby
.
He entered the Royal Navy in 1809 and was posted to the frigate Salcette as a midshipman. After service on the 74-gun Fame he was transferred to HMS Arethusa fighting the slave trade, followed by anther transfer to HMS Menelaus. His only command was of the 10-gun brig Britomart in 1827 which was very soon paid off.
Retiring in 1827, he wrote his autobiography, The Life of a Sailor, which was serialised in Metropolitan Magazine (1831–1832). He also wrote sea novels somewhat in the style of Marryat, including Ben Brace, the last of Nelson's Agamemnons (1836), The Arethusa (1837), Jack Adams, or the Mutiny of the Bounty (1838), The Spitfire (1840), Tom Bowling
(1841), Jack Malcolm's Log (1846). He also continued James's Naval History
, and wrote books of travel.
As a midshipman on board the frigate Salcette in May 1810, young Chamier watched Lord Byron swim across the Hellespont at the second attempt. This episode is described in The Life of a Sailor.
His most popular books were
Life of a Sailor, with six reprints from 1832 to 1873,
Ben Brace, with 11 reprints from 1836 to 1905,
Tom Bowling
, with 5 reprints from 1858 to 1905 and
The Spitfire, with 3 reprints from 1840 to 1861.
In 1870 The Times described Chamier as 'a veteran novelist, one, indeed, whose sea novels some quarter of a century ago were almost as universally popular as those of Captain Marryat'.
The only detailed publication on Chamier's life and works is the exhaustive PhD dissertation by P.J. van der Voort: The Pen and the Quarterdeck , Leiden University Press, 1972.
He is related to Daniel Chamier
.
Navy
A navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...
captain
Captain (nautical)
A sea captain is a licensed mariner in ultimate command of the vessel. The captain is responsible for its safe and efficient operation, including cargo operations, navigation, crew management and ensuring that the vessel complies with local and international laws, as well as company and flag...
.
He was the son of an Anglo-Indian official, John Ezechial Camier and his wife Georgiana, daughter of Vice-admiral Sir William Burnaby
Sir William Burnaby, 1st Baronet
Sir Wiiliam Burnaby, 1st Baronet was a British naval officer.He was the son of John Burnaby of Kensington.He entered the navy and was promoted to lieutenant in 1732. In August 1741 he was given command of the bomb-ketch Thunder and posted to Admiral Vernon's squadron in the West Indies...
.
He entered the Royal Navy in 1809 and was posted to the frigate Salcette as a midshipman. After service on the 74-gun Fame he was transferred to HMS Arethusa fighting the slave trade, followed by anther transfer to HMS Menelaus. His only command was of the 10-gun brig Britomart in 1827 which was very soon paid off.
Retiring in 1827, he wrote his autobiography, The Life of a Sailor, which was serialised in Metropolitan Magazine (1831–1832). He also wrote sea novels somewhat in the style of Marryat, including Ben Brace, the last of Nelson's Agamemnons (1836), The Arethusa (1837), Jack Adams, or the Mutiny of the Bounty (1838), The Spitfire (1840), Tom Bowling
Tom Bowling
Tom Bowling can be:*A character in the novel The Adventures of Roderick Random*An 18th century song by Charles Dibdin.*The fourth movement of the Fantasia on British Sea Songs by Sir Henry Wood, which uses the melody of Dibdin's song....
(1841), Jack Malcolm's Log (1846). He also continued James's Naval History
Naval History
Naval History is a bi-monthly magazine published by the United States Naval Institute since 1987. The 72-page publication not only includes feature articles spanning the course of Naval History written by significant scholars of their subject, but also has standing features including: "Looking...
, and wrote books of travel.
As a midshipman on board the frigate Salcette in May 1810, young Chamier watched Lord Byron swim across the Hellespont at the second attempt. This episode is described in The Life of a Sailor.
His most popular books were
Life of a Sailor, with six reprints from 1832 to 1873,
Ben Brace, with 11 reprints from 1836 to 1905,
Tom Bowling
Tom Bowling
Tom Bowling can be:*A character in the novel The Adventures of Roderick Random*An 18th century song by Charles Dibdin.*The fourth movement of the Fantasia on British Sea Songs by Sir Henry Wood, which uses the melody of Dibdin's song....
, with 5 reprints from 1858 to 1905 and
The Spitfire, with 3 reprints from 1840 to 1861.
In 1870 The Times described Chamier as 'a veteran novelist, one, indeed, whose sea novels some quarter of a century ago were almost as universally popular as those of Captain Marryat'.
The only detailed publication on Chamier's life and works is the exhaustive PhD dissertation by P.J. van der Voort: The Pen and the Quarterdeck , Leiden University Press, 1972.
He is related to Daniel Chamier
Daniel Chamier
Daniel Chamier was a Huguenot minister in France, founder of the Academy of Montpellier and author.-Life:He was born at the castle of Le Mont, near Mocas and west of Grenoble. His father was from Avignon and a Protestant convert, a pastor at Montélimar...
.