Robert FitzRoy

Vice Admiral Robert FitzRoy (July 5, 1805 - April 30, 1865) achieved lasting fame as the captain of HMS Beagle and as a pioneering meteorologist who invented weather forecasts, also proving an able surveyor and hydrographer as well as Governor of New Zealand.

Background

Robert FitzRoy was born at Ampton Hall, Suffolk, England into the upper echelons of the British aristocracy and a tradition of public service. Through his father, Lord Charles FitzRoy, Robert was a fourth-great grandson of Charles II of England and his grandfather was Augustus Henry Fitzroy, 3rd Duke of Grafton. His mother was the daughter of the first Marquis of Londonderry and the half-sister of Viscount Castlereagh, who became Home Secretary.

Related Topics:
Ampton Hall - Suffolk - England - Charles II of England - Augustus Henry Fitzroy, 3rd Duke of Grafton - Marquis of Londonderry - Viscount Castlereagh

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From the age of four Robert FitzRoy lived at Wakefield Lodge in Northamptonshire, the Palladian mansion of the Grafton family.

Related Topics:
Wakefield Lodge - Northamptonshire - Palladian

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In February 1818, 12 years old, he entered the Royal Naval College, Portsmouth, and in the following year he entered the Royal Navy. He completed his course with distinction and was promoted lieutenant on 7 September 1824, having passed the examination with 'full numbers', a result not achieved previously. After serving on HMS Thetis, in 1828 he was appointed flag lieutenant to Rear Admiral Sir Robert Otway, commander-in-chief of the South American station, aboard HMS Ganges.

Related Topics:
1818 - 7 September - 1824 - HMS ''Thetis'' - 1828 - Robert Otway - HMS ''Ganges''

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At that time HMS Beagle under Captain Pringle Stokes was carrying out a hydrographic survey of Tierra del Fuego, under the overall command of captain Philip Parker King in HMS Adventure. Pringle Stokes became depressed and shot himself, and the ship under Lieutenant Skyring sailed to Rio de Janeiro, where Otway made FitzRoy (temporary) Captain of the Beagle on 15 December 1828. By the ship's return on 14 October 1830 FitzRoy had established his reputation as a surveyor and commander.

Related Topics:
HMS ''Beagle'' - Tierra del Fuego - Philip Parker King - HMS ''Adventure'' - Rio de Janeiro - 15 December - 1828 - 14 October - 1830

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During the survey some of his men were camping onshore when a group of Fuegian natives made off with their boat. His ship gave chase and after a scuffle the culprit's families were brought on board as hostages. Eventually FitzRoy held a boy, a girl and two men. As it was not possible to put them ashore conveniently he decided to civilise the savages, teaching them "English..the plainer truths of Christianity..and the use of common tools" before returning them as missionaries. They were given names, the girl he name Fuegia Basket boy being called Jemmy Button and the one man who did not escape named York Minister. FizRoy brought them back to England where one man died of a smallpox vaccination. The others were minded by the trainee missionary Richard Matthews and became civilised enough to be presented at court in the summer of 1831.

Related Topics:
Jemmy Button - Richard Matthews - 1831

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