Douglas Clavering

Captain Douglas Charles Clavering RN FRS (8 September 1794 – mid-1827) was an officer of the British Royal Navy and Arctic explorer.

Biography

Early life and career Clavering was born at Holyrood House, the eldest son of Brigadier-General Henry Mordaunt Clavering and Lady Augusta Campbell, the daughter of John Campbell, 5th Duke of Argyll. His grandfather was Lieutenant-General John Clavering, who had served as Commander-in-Chief, India, from 1774.

Despite his impeccable military antecedents Clavering elected to serve in the Navy. Joining at a young age, he served as a midshipman under Sir Philip Broke in the frigate . Clavering distinguished himself during the battle with USS Chesapeake in June 1813, and was honourably mentioned in Broke's report. He then served as a lieutenant aboard the sloop-of-war in the Mediterranean, and in 1821 was appointed commander of the sloop , on the coast of Africa. He observed several traces of habitation, and later made contact with a group of Northeast-Greenland Inuit. Clavering returned to the camp on 29 August to find that Sabine had almost completed his measurements. They struck camp and returned to the ship the next day. .

Disappearance and death In January 1825 Clavering was appointed commander of brig-sloop on the West Africa Squadron, engaged in the suppression of the slave trade. Redwing sailed from Sierra Leone in June 1827 and was never seen again. Wreckage washed ashore in November near Mataceney suggested that lightning had started a fire that destroyed her.