Memorial: M4221

Wall memorial at St Peter Port, Guernsey to Admiral James Saumarez, d. 1836

Location

Town Church, St Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands

Transcript

'SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF / THE RIGHT HONOURABLE JAMES SAUMAREZ, LORD DE SAUMAREZ / ADMIRAL OF THE ADMIRAL OF THE RED, KNIGHT GRAND CROSS OF THE ORDER OF THE BATH, KNIGHT GRAND CROSS OF THE ROYAL ORDER OF THE SWORD / OF SWEDEN, GENERAL OF MARINES, AND ELDER BROTHER OF THE TRINITY HOUSE, A BARONET AND D.C.L. OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD / BORN MARCH 11TH 1757 HE ENTERED THE NAVAL SERVICE 1770, WAS MADE A LIEUTENANT 1778 BY SIR PETER PARKER AFTER THE / MEMORABLE ATTACK ON FORT SULLIVAN, SERVED IN THAT RANK IN THE FORTITUDE BEARING THE FLAG OF SIR HYDE PARKER, IN THE / ACTION OFF THE DOGGER BANK 5TH AUGUST 1781, AND ON THAT OCCASION WAS MADE A COMMANDER. THE 7TH FEBRUARY FOLLOWING / HE OBTAINED THE COMMAND OF THE RUSSELL 74 GUNS WITH THE RANK OF POST CAPTAIN AND IN THAT SHIP BORE A DISTINGUISHED / SHARE IN SIR GEORGE RODNEY'S VICTORY 12TH APRIL 1782. AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE WAR WITH FRANCE IN 1793 / HE CAPTURED IN THE CRESCENT OFF CHERBOURG, THE FRENCH FRIGATE LA REUNION / IN JUNE 1794 HE BEAT OFF BY SKILL AND CONSUMMATE BRAVERY, A FRENCH SQUADRON OF VERY SUPERIOR FORCE / ON THE SHORES OF THIS ISLAND, AND IN SIGHT OF HIS ADMIRING COUNTRYMEN / IN 1795 HE WAS CAPTAIN OF THE ORION OF 74 GUNS IN LORD BRIDPORT'S VICTORY OFF CAPE LA HOGUE / AND TOOK A PROMINENT PART IN THAT OF SIR JOHN JERVIS OFF CAPE ST VINCENT 14 FEBRUARY 1797. / HE WAS SECOND IN COMMAND TO SIR HORATIO NELSON IN THE GLORIOUS BATTLE OF THE NILE 1ST AUGUST 1798 / HE WAS MADE A REAR ADMIRAL 1ST JANUARY 1801, AND BEING ENTRUSTED WITH THE COMMAND OF A SEPARATE SQUADRON / HE HAD ON THE 6TH JULY A SEVERE ENGAGEMENT WITH A DETACHMENT OF FRENCH SHIPS, AND BATTERIES, IN THE BAY OF ALGECIRAS / AND, REFITTING WITH UNPARALLELED EXPEDITION HE AGAIN ON THE 12TH ENGAGED THE ENEMY, / NOW INCREASED BY ALMOST DOUBLE HIS FORCE, WHEN HE CAPTURED A 74 GUN SHIP AND DESTROYED TWO FIRST RATES / FOR THIS ACHIEVEMENT HE RECEIVED THE THANKS OF PARLIAMENT, BEING THE 5TH TIME THAT HONOR HAD BEEN CONFERRED UPON HIM / IN 1802 HE WAS APPOINTED TO COMMAND THE NAVAL FORCE STATIONED FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE CHANNEL ISLANDS / AND IN DECEMBER 1806 HE WAS SPECIALLY RAISED TO THE RANK OF VICE ADMIRAL TO ENABLE HIM TO COMMAND THE CHANNEL FLEET / IN THE ABSENCE OF EARL ST VINCENT. IN 1808 HE HOISTED HIS FLAG AS COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE BALTIC FLEET / WHICH APPOINTMENT HE HELD FOR FIVE YEARS, HIS FIRM BUT CONCILIATORY MEASURES AT THIS CRISIS WERE MAINLY INSTRUMENTAL IN / DETACHING THE NORTHERN POWERS FROM THE DOMINATION OF FRANCE, AND THUS MATERIALLY CONDUCED TO THE RESTORATION OF PEACE. / HE HELD THE COMMAND AT PLYMOUTH FROM 1824 TO 1827 AND IN 1831 WAS CREATED A PEER OF THE UNITED KINGDOM / TO A LOFTINESS OF CHARACTER WHICH INDICATED HIM AS BORN TO COMMAND WAS UNITED A BENIGNITY OF SPIRIT AND AN URBANITY OF DEMEANOUR / WHICH ENSURED HIM UNIVERSAL LOVE, ESTEEM AND VENERATION BOTH IN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE RELATIONS OF LIFE / HIS ZEAL FOR THE WELFARE OF HIS COUNTRY WAS SURPASSED ONLY BY DEVOTION TO HIS GOD. HE EXHIBITED IN HIS WHOLE LIFE / THE EXAMPLE OF AN EARNEST CHRISTIAN STRIVING TO FURTHER THE WILL OF HIS DIVINE MASTER, / GREAT AS HIS DEEDS WERE IN LIFE, HIS GREATEST TRIUMPH WAS RESERVED FOR THE LAST CONFLICT WHICH HIS REDEEMER TAUGHT / AND ENABLED HIM TO CONQUER, FULL OF YEARS AND FULL OF HONOUR AND IN THE BLESSED HOPE OF IMMORTAL GLORY / HE RESIGNED HIS SPIRIT INTO THE HANDS OF GOD AND HIS SAVIOUR OCT 9TH 1836 IN THE 80TH YEAR OF HIS AGE. / HE MARRIED OCTOBER 27TH 1788 MARTHA, ONLY CHILD OF THOMAS LE MARCHANT ESQRE AND MARY DOBREE HIS WIFE, BY WHOM HE HAD EIGHT CHILDREN. / FOUR ONLY SURVIVE WHO WITH THEIR BELOVED MOTHER HAVE ERECTED THIS MONUMENT TO HIS REVERED MEMORY'

Details

Description: Tablet flanked by female figures holding respectively a cross and anchor (Faith and Hope), coat of arms above. An action between two warships is shown on the apron.

Type: Wall memorial
Position: South aisle
Materials: Marble

Event

Battle of Algeciras

Event Date

1801

Event Category

1793-1802 French Revolutionary War

People

Saumarez, James
Age: 80
Date of Death: 9/10/1836
Cause of Death: Unknown/None
Rank / Occupation: Admiral of the Red
Organisation: Royal Navy

Extra

Notes: Sighted B. Tomlinson 2010.

JSON

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  "post_id": "644",
  "id": "M4221",
  "location": "Town Church, St Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands",
  "transcript": "'SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF / THE RIGHT HONOURABLE JAMES SAUMAREZ, LORD DE SAUMAREZ / ADMIRAL OF THE ADMIRAL OF THE RED, KNIGHT GRAND CROSS OF THE ORDER OF THE BATH, KNIGHT GRAND CROSS OF THE ROYAL ORDER OF THE SWORD / OF SWEDEN, GENERAL OF MARINES, AND ELDER BROTHER OF THE TRINITY HOUSE, A BARONET AND D.C.L. OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD / BORN MARCH 11TH 1757 HE ENTERED THE NAVAL SERVICE 1770, WAS MADE A LIEUTENANT 1778 BY SIR PETER PARKER AFTER THE / MEMORABLE ATTACK ON FORT SULLIVAN, SERVED IN THAT RANK IN THE FORTITUDE BEARING THE FLAG OF SIR HYDE PARKER, IN THE / ACTION OFF THE DOGGER BANK 5TH AUGUST 1781, AND ON THAT OCCASION WAS MADE A COMMANDER. THE 7TH FEBRUARY FOLLOWING / HE OBTAINED THE COMMAND OF THE RUSSELL 74 GUNS WITH THE RANK OF POST CAPTAIN AND IN THAT SHIP BORE A DISTINGUISHED / SHARE IN SIR GEORGE RODNEY'S VICTORY 12TH APRIL 1782. AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE WAR WITH FRANCE IN 1793 / HE CAPTURED IN THE CRESCENT OFF CHERBOURG, THE FRENCH FRIGATE LA REUNION / IN JUNE 1794 HE BEAT OFF BY SKILL AND CONSUMMATE BRAVERY, A FRENCH SQUADRON OF VERY SUPERIOR FORCE / ON THE SHORES OF THIS ISLAND, AND IN SIGHT OF HIS ADMIRING COUNTRYMEN / IN 1795 HE WAS CAPTAIN OF THE ORION OF 74 GUNS IN LORD BRIDPORT'S VICTORY OFF CAPE LA HOGUE / AND TOOK A PROMINENT PART IN THAT OF SIR JOHN JERVIS OFF CAPE ST VINCENT 14 FEBRUARY 1797. / HE WAS SECOND IN COMMAND TO SIR HORATIO NELSON IN THE GLORIOUS BATTLE OF THE NILE 1ST AUGUST 1798 / HE WAS MADE A REAR ADMIRAL 1ST JANUARY 1801, AND BEING ENTRUSTED WITH THE COMMAND OF A SEPARATE SQUADRON / HE HAD ON THE 6TH JULY A SEVERE ENGAGEMENT WITH A DETACHMENT OF FRENCH SHIPS, AND BATTERIES, IN THE BAY OF ALGECIRAS / AND, REFITTING WITH UNPARALLELED EXPEDITION HE AGAIN ON THE 12TH ENGAGED THE ENEMY, / NOW INCREASED BY ALMOST DOUBLE HIS FORCE, WHEN HE CAPTURED A 74 GUN SHIP AND DESTROYED TWO FIRST RATES / FOR THIS ACHIEVEMENT HE RECEIVED THE THANKS OF PARLIAMENT, BEING THE 5TH TIME THAT HONOR HAD BEEN CONFERRED UPON HIM / IN 1802 HE WAS APPOINTED TO COMMAND THE NAVAL FORCE STATIONED FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE CHANNEL ISLANDS / AND IN DECEMBER 1806 HE WAS SPECIALLY RAISED TO THE RANK OF VICE ADMIRAL TO ENABLE HIM TO COMMAND THE CHANNEL FLEET / IN THE ABSENCE OF EARL ST VINCENT. IN 1808 HE HOISTED HIS FLAG AS COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE BALTIC FLEET / WHICH APPOINTMENT HE HELD FOR FIVE YEARS, HIS FIRM BUT CONCILIATORY MEASURES AT THIS CRISIS WERE MAINLY INSTRUMENTAL IN / DETACHING THE NORTHERN POWERS FROM THE DOMINATION OF FRANCE, AND THUS MATERIALLY CONDUCED TO THE RESTORATION OF PEACE. / HE HELD THE COMMAND AT PLYMOUTH FROM 1824 TO 1827 AND IN 1831 WAS CREATED A PEER OF THE UNITED KINGDOM / TO A LOFTINESS OF CHARACTER WHICH INDICATED HIM AS BORN TO COMMAND WAS UNITED A BENIGNITY OF SPIRIT AND AN URBANITY OF DEMEANOUR / WHICH ENSURED HIM UNIVERSAL LOVE, ESTEEM AND VENERATION BOTH IN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE RELATIONS OF LIFE / HIS ZEAL FOR THE WELFARE OF HIS COUNTRY WAS SURPASSED ONLY BY DEVOTION TO HIS GOD. HE EXHIBITED IN HIS WHOLE LIFE / THE EXAMPLE OF AN EARNEST CHRISTIAN STRIVING TO FURTHER THE WILL OF HIS DIVINE MASTER, / GREAT AS HIS DEEDS WERE IN LIFE, HIS GREATEST TRIUMPH WAS RESERVED FOR THE LAST CONFLICT WHICH HIS REDEEMER TAUGHT / AND ENABLED HIM TO CONQUER, FULL OF YEARS AND FULL OF HONOUR AND IN THE BLESSED HOPE OF IMMORTAL GLORY / HE RESIGNED HIS SPIRIT INTO THE HANDS OF GOD AND HIS SAVIOUR OCT 9TH 1836 IN THE 80TH YEAR OF HIS AGE. / HE MARRIED OCTOBER 27TH 1788 MARTHA, ONLY CHILD OF THOMAS LE MARCHANT ESQRE AND MARY DOBREE HIS WIFE, BY WHOM HE HAD EIGHT CHILDREN. / FOUR ONLY SURVIVE WHO WITH THEIR BELOVED MOTHER HAVE ERECTED THIS MONUMENT TO HIS REVERED MEMORY'",
  "content": "<p>Wall memorial at St Peter Port, Guernsey to Admiral James Saumarez, d. 1836</p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"408\" src=\"http://memorials.rmg.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/M4221Large.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6851\" srcset=\"https://memorials.rmg.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/M4221Large.jpg 500w, https://memorials.rmg.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/M4221Large-300x245.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" /></figure>",
  "images": ["/uploads/2014/05/M4221Large.jpg","/uploads/2014/05/M4221Large-300x245.jpg"],
  "categories": ["Uncategorised"],
  "details": {
    "description": "Tablet flanked by female figures holding respectively a cross and anchor (Faith and Hope), coat of arms above. An action between two warships is shown on the apron.<br />\r\n<br />",
    "type": "Wall memorial",
    "position": "South aisle",
    "materials": "Marble",
    "dateErected": "",
    "artists": "",
    "vessel": ""  },
  "event": {
    "event":"Battle of Algeciras",
    "date": "1801",
    "category": "1793-1802 French Revolutionary War"  },
  "people": [{"name":"Saumarez, James","age":"80","dateofdeath":"9/10/1836","causeofdeath":"Unknown/None","rankOccupation":"Admiral of the Red","organisation":"Royal Navy"}],
  "extra": {
    "notes": "Sighted B. Tomlinson 2010.",
    "bibliography": "",
    "recorder": "",
    "photographer": ""  }
}

Maritime Memorials