Fremantle, Charles

ADMIRAL (ENGLAND)
BORN 1 Jun 1800 - DIED 25 May 1869, London
BIRTH NAME Fremantle, Charles Howe
GRAVE LOCATION London: Brompton Cemetery, Old Brompton Road, West Brompton (East Terrace)

Charles Fremantle was the son of Thomas Fremantle (1765-1819), an admiral who was close to Nelson. His mother Elizabeth Wynne Fremantle (1778-1857) was known as a diarist. After an attempted rescue near Christchurch, Dorset in 1824 he received a gold medal from the newly formed Royal National Institution for the Preservation of Life. In 1826 he was charged with the rape of a young girl but witnesses were paid off by his family.

In 1828 was he put in charge of the HMS Challenger and in 1829 he planted the English flag on the westcoast of Australia. The australian town Fremantle was named after him.

He moved on to Ceylon where he was based for several years. In 1832 he returned to England and during his way back he visited Kowloon. The British government followed his advice to create a British settlement there in 1841, now known as Hong Kong.

He married Isabella Wedderburn in 1836 and they had three children. In 1843 he commanded the HMS Inconstant, in 1847 the HMS Albion and in 1853 the HMS Juno in Australia. He served during the Crimean War and in 1863 he was appointed Commander-in-Chief in Plymouth.

Images

The grave of Charles Fremantle at Brompton Cemetery, London.
Picture by Androom (19 Aug 2017)

 

Sources
Answers - The Most Trusted Place for Answering Life's Questions
Charles Fremantle - Wikipedia


Fresenius, Carl Remigius

Published: 14 Oct 2017
Last update: 29 May 2021