Charles John Moore Mansfield

Captain Charles John Moore Mansfield (1760–1813) was a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War, the French Revolutionary Wars and Napoleonic Wars. Unlike many of his dashing companions of this period, Mansfield is notable for his reticent social life which contrasted sharply with his dashing and action-filled military career.

Early life Mansfield was the son of a dockyard officer at Plymouth Dock in the parish of Stoke Damerel, Devonport, now part of Plymouth, Devon, born on 15 November 1760 and christened on 13 December. He joined the navy at the age of eleven in 1772 as Captain's Servant to Captain Feilding in HMS Kent, then a guard-ship at Plymouth.

Peacetime and marriage Mansfield returned to England at the end of 1782, and at the start of 1783 briefly served as first lieutenant of the frigate Monsieur before joining the newly built HMS Irresistible in which he served during the peacetime for five years before returning ashore in 1788.

French revolutionary wars Soon after war was declared, Mansfield was then promoted on 19 July 1793 to Commander and took over the sloop HMS Megaera in which he made Post-Captain on 4 October 1794. He transferred to HMS Dryad in 1799 and remained in her until after the peace in 1802. and performed diligently with much success in forcing the surrender of the Neptuno, and taking 25 casualties. The Minotaur remained off Cadiz for the following year, returning to Britain at the end of 1806 with Mansfield suffering from debilitating rheumatism. In the spring of 1807 he was flag captain to Rear Admiral William Essington, third-in-command at the bombardment of Copenhagen, where he benefited from the prize money for the captured ships in the harbour, but was forced to retire from active service through ill-health on his return at the end of the year.

Illness and death Although a man in his position could have been expected to have received promotion and rewards at the end of the Napoleonic Wars, Mansfield never survived long enough, dying at Rochester after a period of illness in 1813. His memorial raised to him in St Margaret's Church in Rochester makes a succinct record of his life:

TO THE MEMORY OF Captn CHARLES JOHN MOORE MANSFIELD ROYAL NAVY Who during a Period of 40 Years arduous Service established the character of an Honorable and Gallant Officer. In the Year 1793 he was made Commander and was afterwards raised to the Rank of POST CAPTAIN. While commanding the Andromache he was attacked by an Algerine Frigate under Spanish Colors, which he captured after a long and desperate engagement. For many years he commanded the Minotaur, and had the Honor of capturing the El Neptuno a Spanish 80 Gun Ship in the ever memorable engagement of TRAFALGAR Soon after this Period, worn down by fatigue he retired into the bosom of his Family, and, after a long and afflicting illness, calmly resigned his Soul into the hands of his Maker On the 23d day of April 1813, Aged 52 Years.