A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Lambart, Oliver William Matthew

1787969A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Lambart, Oliver William MatthewWilliam Richard O'Byrne

LAMBART. (Lieut., 1844. f-p., 10; h-p., 0.)

The Honoobable Oliver William Matthew Lambart, born 26 Aug. 1822, is youngest son of Richard, seventh Earl of Cavan, K.C., a general officer in the Army, and Colonel of the 45th Regt. of Foot, by his second wife, Lydia, second daughter of Wm. Arnold, Esq., of Slatswood. He is half-uncle of the present Earl of Cavan.

This officer entered the Navy, 11 June, 1837, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Hazard 18, Capt. Jas. Wilkinson. In that vessel, after visiting the coast of Africa, he proceeded to the Mediterranean, where, until 1839, he served as Midshipman in the Rodney 92, Capt. Hyde Parker, Talavera 74, Capt. Wm. Bowen Mends, and Wasp 16, Capt. Hon. Dudley Worsley Anderson Pelham. Sailing then for China in the Blonde 42, Capt. Thos. Bourchier, he took part in the chief operations of the war, including the first and second attacks upon Canton, the reduction of Amoy, the re-taking of Chusan, the capture of Chinghae, Ningpo, and Chapoo,[1] the battle of Woosung,[2] the storming of Chin-Kiang-Foo,[3] and the various hostilities on the Yang-tse-Kiang terminating with the pacification of Nanking. At Chin-Kiang-Foo, 21 July, 1842, Mr. Lambart was employed in the boats under Lieut. Edw. Crouch when they sustained, in an attempt to land the artillery-guns, a loss of 17 out of 24 persons wounded, including the officer last mentioned, whom he consequently succeeded in the command. In March, 1843, on his return to England, he joined the St. Vincent 120, flag-ship of Sir Chas. Rowley at Portsmouth, where he passed his examination 6 Sept. following, and was for some time employed as Mate in the Victoria and Albert yacht, Capt. Lord Adolphus FitzClarence. He obtained his commission 11 Oct. 1844, and since 19 Feb. 1845 (a few days previously to which period he had been appointed to the Rodney 92, Capt. Edw. Collier) has been serving in the Vanguard 80, Capt. Geo. Wickens Willes, on the Home and Mediterranean stations.

Lieut. Lambart married, 26 Nov. 1844, Anne Elizabeth, second daughter of Capt. G. W. Willes, R.N.


  1. Vide Gaz. 1842, pp. 396, 2388, 3694.
  2. Vide Gaz. 1842, p. 3400.
  3. Vide Gaz. 1848, p. 3405.