warmest praise, does not appearto have been immediately revrarded. His commission as a Commander bears date Mar. 3, 1804; and his promotion to post rank took place Jan. 22, 1806.
Captain Shippard subsequently commanded the Banterer of 22 guns; the Namur, a third rate, bearing the flag of the late Vice-Admiral Thomas Wells, commander in-chief at Sheerness; and the Asia 74. The loss of the former ship near Point Mille Vache, in the river St. Lawrence, Oct. 29, 1808, and the sufferings of her officers and crew, are fully described in the Naval Chronicle, Vol. XXII, pp. 49–53. The following sentence was pronounced by the court-martial assembled to try Captain Shippard for his conduct on that occasion:
“The Court is of opinion, that the loss of the said ship was occasioned by the culpable neglect of the Master, in not having repeated to the Lieutenant who relieved hiin in the next watch, the orders he had received from Captain Shippard, to keep the lead going by the forecastle men, and to relieve them, in consequence of the very severe cold weather, every half hour; as also from the negligence and very culpable conduct of Lieutenant Stephen C. M‘Curdy, the officer of the middle watch, who not only permitted the pilot to quit the deck without his Captain’s knowledge, but likewise left it himself between the hours of two and four, without being relieved by any person whatever, and took with him to the gun-room, to drink grog, the pilot’s apprentice, the only midshipman, and the only quarter-master who were in the watch, where he remained upwards of a quarter of an hour: that Captain Shippard appears to have caused every possible exertion to be made to save the ship, and, when that was found impracticable, to preserve the stores, in which he was supported by his officers and crew. The Court doth therefore adjudge Lieutenant Stephen C. M‘Curdy to be dismissed from his Majesty’s service, as a Lieutenant, and Mr. Robert Clegram, acting Master, to be severely reprimanded, and admonished in all similar navigations to keep the lead going, and feel particular charge of any ship he may happen to serve in as Master, notwithstanding a pilot shall be on board at the time. And Lieutenant Stephen C. M‘Curdy is hereby sentenced to be dismissed from the rank of Lieutenant in his Majesty’s service, Mr. Robert Clegram to be severely reprimanded, and Captain Alexander Shippard, the other officers, ship’s company, and pilot, to be acquitted, and they are hereby acquitted accordingly. It is the opinion of the Court, that if Captain Shippard’s excellent arrangements had been duly attended to, the loss of his Majesty’s ship would have been avoided.”
Captain Shippard married a daughter of Admiral Sir John
