A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Fremantle, Charles Howe

1719476A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Fremantle, Charles HoweWilliam Richard O'Byrne

FREMANTLE. (Captain, 1826. f-p., 20; h-p., 15.)

Charles Howe Fremantle, born 1 June, 180 is second son of Vice-Admiral the late Sir Thos. Fras. Fremantle, G.C.B.,[1] by Elizabeth, daughter and co-heir of Rich. Wynne, Esq., of Falkingham, co. Lincoln; brother of the present Sir T. F. Fremantle, Bart., and of Capt. S. G. Fremantle, R.N.; brother-in-law of Lord Wm. Hervey, second son of the Marquess of Bristol; nephew of Colonel John Edwards Fremantle, of the Coldstream Guards, who died in 1798 – of Colonel Stephen Fras. Wm. Fremantle, who died in 1794 – of the Right Hon. Sir Wm. Henry Fremantle, K.G.H., Treasurer of the Household, and Ranger of Windsor Great Park – and of the late Vice-Admiral Wells; and uncle of the present Sir Jas. Geo. Fitzgerald, Bart., of Castle Ishen, co. Cork.

This officer entered the Navy, 12 Dec. 1812, as Midshipman, on board the Ramillies 74, Capts. Sir Thos. Masterman Hardy and Sir Chas. Ogle; under the first of whom he served at the blockade of New London, assisted in occupying the islands in Passamaquoddy Bay, witnessed the bombardment of Stonington, and joined in the attack on New Orleans. In the course of 1815 he became successively attached to the Wye 24, bearing his father’s flag off Jersey, Challenger 16, Capt. Henry Forbes, and Tagus 38, Capt. Jas. Whitley Deans Dundas. On 4 Nov. 1818 Mr. Fremantle rejoined his father, whose flag was then flying in the Mediterranean on board the Rochfort 80. In that ship, of which he was confirmed a Lieutenant 11 Nov. 1819, he continued, we believe, to serve, latterly as Signal officer to Sir Graham Moore, until advanced to the rank of Commander, 23 April, 1822. He was afterwards employed in the Coast-Guard service at Lymington, but resigned that appointment on being invested with the command, 24 June, 1824, of the Jasper 10, in which sloop he visited Mexico. Acquiring his present rank, 4 Aug. 1826, Capt. Fremantle was next selected to command, 5 Nov. 1828, the Challenger 28, first at the Cape of Good Hope, and then in the East Indies, whence he returned to England and was paid off 12 June, 1833. Since 20 May, 1843, he has been employed as Captain of the Inconstant 36, in the Mediterranean.

He married, 8 Oct. 1836, Isabella, daughter of David Lyon, Esq., and relict of Jas. Wedderburn, Esq., of Portland Place. Agents – Goode and Lawrence.


  1. Vice-Admiral Sir Thos. Fras. Fremantle, G.G.B., K.M.T., K.S.F., and a Baron of the Austrian Empire, distinguished himself aa Captain of the Inconstant 36, in Hotham’s action, 14 March, 1795; was wounded while in command of the Seahorse 38, at Teneriffe, 24 July, 1797; afterwards commanded the Ganges 74, and Neptune 98, in the battles of Copenhagen and Trafalgar, and, with his flag on board the Milford 74, conducted the Naval operations at the redaction of Trieste in Oct. 1812. He died Commander-in-Chief in the Mediterranean, 19 Dec. 1819.