Charles Fremantle

Admiral Sir Charles Howe Fremantle GCB (1 June 1800 – 25 May 1869) was a British Royal Navy officer. The city of Fremantle, Western Australia, is named after him.

Early life Fremantle was the second son of Thomas Fremantle, an associate of Horatio Nelson, and of Fremantle's wife Elizabeth, the diarist. His middle name, Howe, is derived from his date of birth: the anniversary of Lord Howe's victory over the French on the Glorious First of June, 1794.

Career Fremantle joined the Royal Navy in 1812 and worked his way up the ranks on a number of vessels. From 1818 to 1819 he served on his father's flagship in the Mediterranean Fleet.

In 1824 Fremantle received the first gold gallantry medal of the new Royal National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck, later the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, for an attempted rescue at Whitepit near Christchurch, Dorset.

In April 1826 Fremantle was charged with raping a 15-year-old girl. His family is said to have paid off witnesses and leant on the judiciary to avoid scandal. He then went on to groom 10 more girls under the age of 18, his family has denied all allegations.

Swan River Colony In August 1826 Fremantle was promoted to captain and in 1828 took command of the 26-gun frigate ,

The appointed Lieutenant Governor James Stirling arrived in Cockburn Sound, Western Australia, on 2 June, aboard the hired transport barque . He was given command of in the Mediterranean Fleet in 1843 and of , also in the Mediterranean, in 1847.