Lord Adolphus FitzClarence
Encyclopedia
Rear-Admiral Lord Adolphus FitzClarence, GCH
, ADC
, RN
(18 February 1802 – 17 May 1856) was a British naval officer
.
FitzClarence was born at Bushy Park
, Middlesex
and was an illegitimate child of Prince William, Duke of Clarence
(later William IV) and his mistress, Dorothy Jordan. He attended a boarding school
in Sunbury-on-Thames
before being sent to sea at the age of eleven in 1813, aboard HMS Impregnable
. He subsequently served as a midshipman
aboard HMS Newcastle based in North America
and then later in the Mediterranean Sea
. On receiving his commission in 1824, he transferred to HMS Euryalus
and after being promoted to the rank of Commander
in 1832, he later served aboard HMS Brisk and Redwing in the North Sea
. When promoted to Captain
in 1826, he commanded HMS Ariadne that year, HMS Challenger in 1827 and HMS Pallas in 1828.
On the accession of FitzClarence's father as king in 1830, he took command of the Royal Yacht
, HMY Royal George
. His father also granted him and his siblings the rank of a younger son/daughter of a marquess by Royal Warrant of Precedence
in 1831, enabling him to prefix Lord before his name and he was knighted the following year. He was also appointed Groom of the Robes
in 1830 and a Lord of the Bedchamber
in 1833.
On the death of his father and the accession of his cousin, Victoria
in 1837, FitzClarence retained command of the Royal Yacht (until he was promoted to a Rear-Admiral in 1853) and his allowance allowed to continue. The queen reported that he 'burst into tears, and said it was unexpected, for they [the FitzClarences] did not dare to hope for anything' (as illegitimate children of a former monarch). In 1848, he also became a naval aide-de-camp
to the queen and retained the office until he died, unmarried, at Newburgh Priory
in 1856.
Royal Guelphic Order
The Royal Guelphic Order, sometimes also referred to as the Hanoverian Guelphic Order, is a Hanoverian order of chivalry instituted on 28 April 1815 by the Prince Regent . It has not been conferred by the British Crown since the death of King William IV in 1837, when the personal union of the...
, ADC
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
, RN
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
(18 February 1802 – 17 May 1856) was a British naval officer
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
.
FitzClarence was born at Bushy Park
Bushy Park
- External links :***...
, Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
and was an illegitimate child of Prince William, Duke of Clarence
William IV of the United Kingdom
William IV was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until his death...
(later William IV) and his mistress, Dorothy Jordan. He attended a boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
in Sunbury-on-Thames
Sunbury-on-Thames
Sunbury-on-Thames, also known as Sunbury, is a town in the Surrey borough of Spelthorne, England, and part of the London commuter belt. It is located 16 miles southwest of central London and bordered by Feltham and Hampton, flanked on the south by the River Thames.-History:The earliest evidence of...
before being sent to sea at the age of eleven in 1813, aboard HMS Impregnable
HMS Impregnable (1810)
HMS Impregnable was a 98-gun second rate three-decker ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 1 August 1810 at Chatham. She was designed by Sir William Rule, and was the only ship built to her draught...
. He subsequently served as a midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
aboard HMS Newcastle based in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and then later in the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
. On receiving his commission in 1824, he transferred to HMS Euryalus
HMS Euryalus (1803)
HMS Euryalus was a Royal Navy Apollo Class frigate of 36 guns, which saw service in the Battle of Trafalgar and the War of 1812. During her career she was commanded by three prominent naval personalities of the Napoleonic and post-Napoleonic period, Henry Blackwood, George Heneage Dundas and...
and after being promoted to the rank of Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
in 1832, he later served aboard HMS Brisk and Redwing in the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
. When promoted to Captain
Captain (Royal Navy)
Captain is a senior officer rank of the Royal Navy. It ranks above Commander and below Commodore and has a NATO ranking code of OF-5. The rank is equivalent to a Colonel in the British Army or Royal Marines and to a Group Captain in the Royal Air Force. The rank of Group Captain is based on the...
in 1826, he commanded HMS Ariadne that year, HMS Challenger in 1827 and HMS Pallas in 1828.
On the accession of FitzClarence's father as king in 1830, he took command of the Royal Yacht
Royal Yacht
A royal yacht is a ship used by a monarch or a royal family. If the monarch is an emperor the proper term is imperial yacht. Most of them are financed by the government of the country of which the monarch is head...
, HMY Royal George
HMY Royal George
HMY Royal George was a Royal Yacht of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom, launched 1817, and last used in 1842. She became an accommodation hulk in 1902, and was broken up in 1905....
. His father also granted him and his siblings the rank of a younger son/daughter of a marquess by Royal Warrant of Precedence
Royal Warrant of Precedence
A Royal Warrant of Precedence is a warrant issued by the Monarch of the United Kingdom to determine precedence amongst individuals or organisations....
in 1831, enabling him to prefix Lord before his name and he was knighted the following year. He was also appointed Groom of the Robes
Groom of the Robes
Groom of the Robes is an obsolete office in the Royal Household of the Sovereign of England, later Great Britain, ultimately the United Kingdom. It is equivalent to a Lady-in-Waiting for Queens Regnant.-List of Grooms of the Robes:...
in 1830 and a Lord of the Bedchamber
Lord of the Bedchamber
A Lord of the Bedchamber, previously known as a Gentleman of the Bedchamber was a courtier in the Royal Household of the King of the United Kingdom and the Prince of Wales. A Lord of the Bedchamber's duties consisted of assisting the King with his dressing, waiting on him when he ate in private,...
in 1833.
On the death of his father and the accession of his cousin, Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
in 1837, FitzClarence retained command of the Royal Yacht (until he was promoted to a Rear-Admiral in 1853) and his allowance allowed to continue. The queen reported that he 'burst into tears, and said it was unexpected, for they [the FitzClarences] did not dare to hope for anything' (as illegitimate children of a former monarch). In 1848, he also became a naval aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to the queen and retained the office until he died, unmarried, at Newburgh Priory
Newburgh Priory
Newburgh Priory is a large house near Coxwold, North Yorkshire, England. Standing on the site of an Augustinian priory, founded in 1145, it is a stately home in a rural setting with views to the Kilburn White Horse in the distance...
in 1856.