Edward Sparshott

{{Short description|Royal Navy Admiral (1788–1873)}} {{Use British English|date=December 2023}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}} {{bots|deny=Citation bot}} {{Infobox military person |honorific_prefix = Admiral |name = Edward Sparshott |honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|KH}} |image = |image_upright = |alt = |caption = |birth_date = {{birth date|1788|03|03|df=y}} |birth_place = Portsea, Hampshire, England |death_date = {{death date and age|1873|11|09|1788|03|03|df=y}} |death_place = Botley House, Botley, Hampshire |burial_place = All Saints churchyard, Botley |burial_coordinates = {{coord|50|54|51.6|N|1|16|35.1|W|display=inline,title}} |branch = Royal Navy |branch_label = Service |service_years = 1801–1838 |rank = Admiral (1866) |commands = HMS ''Prince Regent''<br/>HMS ''Rochfort''<br/>HMS ''Winchester'' |known_for = |battles = Napoleonic Wars |awards = Royal Guelphic Order<br/>Order of the Red Eagle |spouse =  |children = |relations = Samuel Sparshott |signature = Edward Sparshott signature.JPG |signature_size = 150px |signature_alt = E. Sparshott }}

Admiral '''Edward Sparshott''' (3 March 1788 – 9 November 1873) was a Royal Navy officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars. As midshipman on HMS ''Centaur'', flagship of Sir Samuel Hood, he was present at the surrender of Madeira. As captain, he commanded HMS ''Prince Regent'', and HMS ''Winchester'', flagships of Sir Henry Blackwood and Sir Thomas Bladen Capel, besides HMS ''Rochfort'' as post-captain under Charles Marsh Schomberg. He retired as captain, and ended his life with the rank of retired admiral.

Sparshott was descended from a Hampshire farming family, and was the youngest of eleven siblings. His brother was Commander Samuel Sparshott, R.N.

==Background== thumb|right|Botley House, Sparshott's last home Sparshott came from a Hampshire family. His paternal grandparents were husbandman John Sparshott of Soberton,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Church of England |title=Hampshire Church of England Burials. Hamble and Hound. 1792 |date=1792 |publisher=Ancestry |location=Hampshire, England |page=1 |url-access=subscription |url=https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/283426:62421?tid=&pid=&queryId=445d27fe412ba760c91278736a1dc868&_phsrc=kwN22&_phstart=successSource |access-date=12 September 2023 |quote=Hamble burials 1792. March 15th 1792. John Sparshott. Paid tax 3.}}</ref>{{Refn|John Sparshott (Titchfield 1709 – Hamble March 1792)|group=nb}} and Elizabeth née Hall,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Church of England |title=Hampshire: - Marriage License allegations, Bishop of Winchester, 1689-1837 (Marriage) |url=https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/24734:5883?tid=&pid=&queryId=445d27fe412ba760c91278736a1dc868&_phsrc=kwN22&_phstart=successSource |website=ancestry.co.uk |url-access=subscription |publisher=Ancestry |access-date=12 September 2023 |date=12 May 1730 |quote=Sparshat, John, of Soberton, husbandman, b., & Elizabeth Hall, of the s., sp., at Porchester, Southwick, or Wymering, 12 May 1730}}</ref>{{Refn|Elizabeth Sparshott (Soberton 1710 – Portsea 1785|group=nb}} who married in 1730.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Church of England |title=Hampshire: - Marriage Licences, Bishop of Winchester, 1689-1837 (Marriage) |url=https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/8698:5883?tid=&pid=&queryId=445d27fe412ba760c91278736a1dc868&_phsrc=kwN22&_phstart=successSource |website=ancestry.co.uk |url-access=subscription |publisher=Ancestry |access-date=12 September 2023 |date=12 May 1730 |quote=Sparshat, John, of Soberton, husbandman, b., & Elizabeth Hall, of the s., sp., at Porchester, Southwick, or Wymering, 12 May 1730.}}</ref> His parents were Daniel Sparshott and Mary née Sparkman, who was illiterate.<ref name="England Births and Christenings" />{{Refn|Daniel Sparshott (1750 – Portsea 15 January 1808). Daniel and Mary Sparshott's surname is spelled "Sparshett" in some records, as was their son Edward's surname in his baptism record.|group=nb}} They married in Hampshire on 29 November 1771,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Church of England |title=England, Select Marriages, 1538-1973 |url=https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/5848607:9852?tid=&pid=&queryId=6fd7be3459f5896ebef35ab71aa182ee&_phsrc=kwN26&_phstart=successSource |website=ancestry.co.uk |url-access=subscription |publisher=Ancestry |access-date=12 September 2023 |date=29 November 1771 |quote=Daniel Sparshott and Mary Sparkman 29 November 1771. Marriage at St Mary's, Portsea, Hampshire.FHL Film Number 919735, 919736, 919744}}</ref>{{Refn|Mary Sparkman (Alton, Hampshire 25 September 1751 – Portsea, Portsmouth November 1821). From Winchester archive: Marriage certificate. "Daniel Sparshatt of this parish in the County of Southampton, and Mary Sparkman of the same parish, were married in this church by banns on this twenty-ninth day of November in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy-one. The marriage was solemnised between us: Daniel Sparshat (signed); the mark X of Mary Sparkman".|group=nb}} and had eleven children, of which Edward was the youngest.{{Refn|The 11 children of Daniel and Mary Sparshott included 2 sets of twins: William (1772–1858), Thomas (1772–1835), John (b.1774), James (1777–1854), Daniel (1781-1845), Joseph (b.1781), Samuel (1783–1851), Elizabeth (1785–1847), Ann (1786–1867), Sarah (b.1790), Edward (1801–1873). James and Daniel were pursers of the Royal Navy.|group=nb}} Daniel Sparshott was later described as a gentleman.<ref name="Sam Sparshott marriage cert" >{{cite book |title=Church of England Marriages and Banns 1841-1848 |date=7 July 1842 |publisher=Church of England |location=St Marylebone |page=107 |url-access=subscription |url=https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/1623/images/31280_194681-00197?pId=1051938385 |access-date=17 September 2023 |quote=At St Marylebone Parish Church, 7th July 1842, Samuel Sparshott, bachelor, gentleman of St Marylebone, son of Daniel Sparshott, gentleman, and Elizabeth Cooper, spinster of same, daughter of William Cooper, farmer}}</ref>{{Refn|In 18th–19th century terms, a gentleman was a man living on his own means. It did not necessarily signify social rank or behaviour.|group=nb}}

[[File:Gravestone of Admiral Edward Sparshott (1).jpg|thumb|right|Sparshott's gravestone in Botley churchyard]] Edward Sparshott was born in Kingsley,<ref name="1861 England Census" >{{cite web |title=1861 England Census. RG9/681, page 1, schedule 17/98.. High Street, Botley, Hampshire. |url=https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/16407656:8767?ssrc=pt&tid=152178402&pid=222053317151 |website=ancestry.co.uk |url-access=subscription |publisher=H.M. Government |access-date=20 September 2023}}</ref> or Portsea on 3 March 1788,<ref name="Gazette 10 March 2006" /> and baptised on 28 June 1801 at St Mary's Church, Portsea.<ref name="England Births and Christenings" >{{cite web |title=England, select births and christenings |url=https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/13937705:9841?tid=&pid=&queryId=35c77a543a3324e27bfa2eb0613cbac2&_phsrc=kwN6&_phstart=successSource |website=ancestry.co.uk |url-access=subscription |publisher=Church of England |access-date=10 September 2023 |quote=Edward Sparshott, male. Birth 3 March 1788. Baptism 28 June 1801. At St Mary's Portsea, Hampshire, England. Father Daniel Sparshett. Mother Mary Sparshett. FHL Film Number 1596292, 919736, 919737, 919738 Reference ID yr 1801 p.11}}</ref> His brother, the seventh of the eleven siblings, was Commander Samuel Sparshott, R.N.<ref name="Byrne 1849" /><ref name="Marshall 1832" /><ref>{{cite web |title=England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 |url=https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/165530259:9841?tid=&pid=&queryId=6fd7be3459f5896ebef35ab71aa182ee&_phsrc=kwN26&_phstart=successSource |website=ancestry.co.uk |url-access=subscription |publisher=Ancestry |access-date=12 September 2023 |quote=Samuel Sparshott, child of Daniel Sparshott and Mary Sparshott}}</ref> His brothers James and Daniel, fourth and fifth siblings respectively, were pursers in the Royal Navy.<ref>{{cite book |title=Navy List 1834 |date=1834 |publisher=Royal Navy |location=Portsmouth |pages=52,53 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jg8YAAAAMAAJ |access-date=24 September 2023 |quote=Pursers: Daniel Sparshott 30 October 1800. James Sparshott 31 December 1809}}</ref>

At St Pancras Old Church on 16 August 1843, at the age of 45, Sparshott married Sarah Cooper, who was 20 or 25 years old, and literate.<ref>{{cite web |title=Church of England marriages and banns. St Pancras Parish Chapel (St Pancras Old Church). 16 August 1843 |url=https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/1623/images/31280_195020-00026?treeid=&personid=&rc=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=kwN13&_phstart=successSource&pId=1052307976 |website=ancestry.co.uk |url-access=subscription |publisher=Church of England |access-date=10 September 2023 |page=40 |date=16 August 1843 |quote=Marriage certificate: By licence, at St Pancras Church 16th August 1843. Edward Sparshott of St Pancras, bachelor, captain in Royal Navy, Sarah Cooper of Kensington in Middlesex, spinster, both of full age, both fathers dead.}} Note: Sarah Cooper was about 4 months pregnant with her daughter Sarah when she married.</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=England, Select Marriages 1538-1973 |url=https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/19303130:9852?tid=&pid=&queryId=aef4e7eaf729dcabad31a10934ee5cd3&_phsrc=kwN9&_phstart=successSource |website=ancestry.co.uk |url-access=subscription |publisher=Church of England |access-date=10 September 2023 |quote=Edward Sparshott and Sarah Cooper, at Old Church, St Pancras, London. FHL Film Number 598186, 598187, 598188, 598189, 598336, 598337, 598338, 598339, 598340}}</ref>{{Refn|Sarah Sparshott (1818 or 1823 – 1903). GRO index: Marriages Sep 1843 Sparshott Edward and Sarah Cooper St Pancras 1 308. Deaths Mar 1903 Sparshott Sarah 85 Kingston 2a 261.|group=nb}} Their daughter Sarah was born on 5 December 1843.<ref>{{cite web |title=Church of England Births and Baptisms, Kensington and Chelsea, London, 1841-1852. Parish of St Luke, Chelsea. |url=https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/1558/images/31280_194885-00122?treeid=&personid=&rc=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=kwN10&_phstart=successSource&pId=151783824 |website=ancestry.co.uk |url-access=subscription |publisher=Church of England |access-date=10 September 2023 |quote=Baptised 29 December 1843. Sarah daughter of Edward Sparshott, captain of the Royal Navy, and Sarah Sparshott, of Elson Terrace, Brompton. Child Sarah born 5 December 1843}}</ref>{{Refn|GRO index: Births Dec 1843 Sparshott Sarah Kensington III 260|group=nb}} Their son Adolphus Edward, a major of the Royal Marines, was born on 7 December 1845.<ref>{{cite web |title=Church of England births and baptisms, parish of St Luke, Chelsea, 1841-1852 |url=https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/1558/images/31280_194885-00209?treeid=&personid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=kwN11&_phstart=successSource&pId=151848720 |website=ancestry.co.uk |url-access=subscription |publisher=Church of England |access-date=10 September 2023 |pages=58 |date=1846 |quote=Baptism 24 January 1846. Adolphus Edward, born 7 December 1845. Parents Edward captain of the Royal Navy and Sarah Sparshott, of Elon Terrace, Brompton.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Veteran major's death |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003202/19360919/122/0013 |access-date=10 September 2023 |work=Eastbourne Chronicle |agency= |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |date=19 September 1936 |page=13 col.5}}</ref>{{Refn|Adolphus Edward Sparshott (7 December 1845 – 1936). GRO index: Births Mar 1846 Sparshott Adolphus Edward Kensington III 288. Deaths Sep 1936 Sparshott Adolphus E 90 Eastbourne 2b 121|group=nb}} Both children were born in Brompton, London. In 1851 he was living with his wife, two children and two servants in Clarence Cottage, Bridge Road, Marylebone, London, and describing himself as a retired captain R.N., with a "good service pension".<ref>{{cite web |title=1851 England census. Clarence Cottage, Bridge Road, Marylebone, London. HO107/1491. Page 24. Schedule 870/74 |url=https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/3219901:8860 |website=ancestry.co.uk |url-access=subscription |publisher=H.M. Government |access-date=21 September 2023 |date=1851}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Navy List 1855. Officers of the Royal Navy ... in receipt of pensions |date=1855 |location=London |page=279 |url=https://archive.org/details/navylist00allegoog/page/n294/mode/2up?q=sparshott |access-date=24 September 2023 |quote=Captains £150 per annum.: Edward Sparshott 9 April 1850}}</ref> Sparshott and his family were living in Botley House, High Street, Botley, Hampshire, from at least 1855 until at least 1873. The 1861 census finds the family living in the High Street, Botley, with Sparshott describing himself as a retired rear-admiral, R.N.<ref name="1861 England Census" /> In 1871 the family was at the same address, and their daughter Sarah, still unmarried, had remained at home. Sparshott was by then describing himself as "Admiral R.N., Retired List".<ref name="1871 England Census" >{{cite web |title=1871 England Census. RG10/1197. Page 19. Schedule 23/99 |url=https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/7619/images/HAMRG10_1194_1197-0593?pId=500342 |website=ancestry.co.uk |url-access=subscription |publisher=H.M. Government |access-date=20 September 2023}}</ref>

Sparshott died on 9 November 1873 at Botley House, 25 High Street, Botley, Hampshire,<ref name="Gazette 10 March 2006" /><ref name="Homeward Mail 17 November 1873" >{{cite news |title=Obituary notices |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001712/18731117/084/0020 |access-date=10 September 2023 |work=Homeward Mail from India, China and the East |agency= |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |date=17 November 1873 |page=20 col.1}}</ref>{{Refn|Deaths Dec 1873 Sparshott Edward 85 S. Stoneham 2c 35. Botley House was rented by Sparshott from the Guillaume family, who owned the building between 1782 and 1936 (see [https://www.botley.com/itineries/historic-botley Historic Botley]). |group=nb}} which is now a listed building.<ref>{{NHLE|num=1112071 |desc=Botley House, 25 High Street |accessdate=30 December 2022}}</ref> His death was noted in various places, including Bombay,<ref name="Homeward Mail 17 November 1873" /> Hampshire,<ref>{{cite news |title=Deaths |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000495/18731115/020/0004 |access-date=10 September 2023 |work=Hampshire Advertiser |agency= |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |date=15 November 1873 |page=4 col.2}}</ref> and London.<ref>{{cite news |title=Deaths |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000174/18731113/043/0008 |access-date=10 September 2023 |work=Morning Post |agency= |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |date=13 November 1873 |page=8 col.4}}</ref><ref name="Weeks Niews 15 November 1873" >{{cite news |title=Admiral E. Sparshott, K.H. |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002774/18731115/054/0015 |access-date=10 September 2023 |work=Week's News (London) |agency= |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |date=15 November 1873 |page=15 col.1}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Death of the Admiral Edward Sparshott K.H. |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004565/18731117/045/0005 |access-date=10 September 2023 |work=Magnet (London) |agency= |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |date=17 November 1873 |page=5 col.5}}</ref> His will was proved at Winchester on 7 January 1874.<ref>{{cite web |title=England and Wales, National Probate Calendar |url=https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/3467775:1904?ssrc=pt&tid=37684482&pid=28043883601 |website=ancestry.co.uk |url-access=subscription |publisher=H.M. Government |access-date=20 September 2023 |page=105 |date=7 January 1874 |quote=Proved at Winchester}}</ref> He was buried in, or close to, the narthex of All Saints Church, Botley, Hampshire. In 2006, the narthex was demolished, and a two-storey extension with kitchen and toilets built in its place. Headstones and monuments were "relocated", and the planning application noted that "graves may be rendered inaccessible".<ref name="Gazette 10 March 2006" >{{cite news |title=Church use and fabric |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/L-57922-114 |access-date=22 August 2023 |work=The Gazette |agency= |via=thegazette.co.uk |issue=57922 |date=10 March 2006 |page=3460}}</ref>{{Refn|Deaths Dec 1873 Sparshott Edward 85 S. Stoneham 2c 35. The gravestone of Edward Sparshott, All Saints Churchyard, Botley, Hampshire is a plain stone cross on a stepped base.The inscription says: "Edward Sparshott / Admiral Royal Navy / (...?) a kt of Hanover / kt of the Red Eagle of Prussia / Died 9th November 1873 / aged 68 years".|group=nb}}

==Career== ===Midshipman, 1801–1808=== Sparshott joined the Royal Navy as midshipman on 23 July 1801,<ref name="Byrne 1849" /><ref name="Homeward Mail 17 November 1873" /> at thirteen years of age. He was appointed to the sloop HMS ''Beaver'' of 18 guns under Captain Charles Bassett Jones, initially "on a convoy for Cork with Lord Gardner".<ref name="Byrne 1849">{{Cite NBD1849 |wstitle= Sparshott, Edward |volume= 20.11 | pages=1101-1102 |short=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Captain Inman to Nelson, HMS DESIRE, Rostock Bay, 7 June 1801 |url=https://www.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/rmgc-object-481272 |website=rmg.co.uk |publisher=Royal Museums Greenwich |access-date=31 August 2023 |date=1801}}</ref> ''Beaver'' was employed on the north coast of Ireland until September 1802. Between January 1803 and March 1805 he served in the cutter HMS ''Pigmy'' of 14 guns, at Guernsey under lieutenant commanders Samuel Burgess and Martin White. From March 1805 until December 1807, he was appointed to the sloop HMS ''Hazard'', of 16 guns, under Captain R. J. Neve, and HMS ''Niobe'', of 40 guns, under Captain John Wentworth Loring and Captain Matthew Wentworth Scott. "While cruizing with Captain Loring off L'Orient he assisted the capture, 28 March 1806, of ''Le Néarque'' corvette of 16 guns and 97 men, in company at the time with three French frigates".<ref name="Byrne 1849" /> He served from 1807 to 1808 in HMS ''Centaur'', of 74 guns, under the flag of Sir Samuel Hood. While in ''Centaur'', Sparshott was "present at the surrender of Madeira" on 24 December 1807.<ref name="Byrne 1849" /><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Gregory |first1=Desmond |title=British Occupations of Madeira During the Wars Against Napoleon |journal=Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research |date=Summer 1988 |volume=66 |issue=266 |pages=80–96 |jstor=44229784 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44229784 |access-date=20 September 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Surrender of Madeira |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002430/18080120/020/0002 |access-date=20 September 2023 |work=Oracle and the Daily Advertiser |agency= |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |date=20 January 1808 |page=2 col.3}}</ref>

<gallery> Hazard (1794) RMG J4435.jpg|HMS ''Hazard'' (built1794) Brig Cygne.jpg|French brig ''Néarque'' (b.1804) HMS Centaur chasing the Vaillant and Amethyste January 1760.jpg|HMS ''Centaur'' (b.1759), centre </gallery>

===Lieutenant, 1808–1821=== Sparshott passed his lieutenant examination on 2 March 1808. On 16 July 1808, in the Baltic Sea as acting-lieutenant, he was given command of the prize-cutter HMS ''Baltic'', of 14 guns.<ref name="Byrne 1849" /> He "was signal mate of Lord Gambier’s flag-ship, the ''Caledonia'' 120, during the operations against the French squadron in Aix Roads, in April 1809".<ref name="Marshall 1832" >{{cite RNB1823 |wstitle= Sparshott, Edward |volume= 52.19.11 | pages= 152-153 |short=}}</ref> On 28 April 1809, he was formally promoted to lieutenant,<ref name="Navy List 1815" >{{cite book |title=Navy List, 1815: Lieutenants |date=1815 |publisher=Royal Navy |location=Portsmouth |page=92 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0xYYAAAAMAAJ&q=COOPER |access-date=23 September 2023}}</ref> "for his zeal and activity in [HMS ''Baltic''] in effecting the capture of as many as 21 sail of merchantmen".<ref name="Byrne 1849" /> From 12 May 1809 he served in HMS ''Niobe'' for "the rest of the war",<ref name="Marshall 1832" /> under Captain William Augustus Montagu and Captain Loring, working at Cádiz, Lisbon and the Home Station. In 1810, as lieutenant of ''Niobe'', he was involved in the "attack on two [French] frigates under the batteries of La Hogue", and in 1811 was involved in the "destruction of ''Amazone'' off Cape Barfleur".<ref name="Navy List 1855 p.53" >{{cite book |title=Navy List 1855: Services of captains. |date=1855 |publisher=Parker, Furnivall & Parker |location=London |page=53 |url=https://archive.org/details/navylist00allegoog/page/n68/mode/2up?view=theater&q=sparshott |access-date=24 September 2023 |quote=E. Sparshott lieut. of ''Niobe'' at the attack on 2 Fr. frigates under the batteries of La Hogue, 1810; and destruction of ''Amazone'' off Cape Barfleur, 1811. Capt of ''Winchester'', and rendered important services in quelling an insurrection on the coast of Malabar in 1837.}}</ref> From 8 July,<ref name="Byrne 1849" /> or 8 August,<ref name="Marshall 1832" /> 1814 he served as 1st lieutenant in HMS ''Forester'', of 18 guns, around Newfoundland under Captain William Hendry. On 15 June 1815 he embarked as 2nd lieutenant for England in HMS ''Warrior'', of 74 guns, captained by John Tremayne Rodd.<ref name="Byrne 1849" />

Sparshott was next employed in the Mediterranean, as 1st lieutenant in HMS'' Myrmidon'', of 20 guns, under Captain Robert Gambier from 15 October 1815, and HMS ''Tagus'', of 38 guns, under Captain James Whitley Deans Dundas from 28 October,<ref name="Byrne 1849" /> or 28 December,<ref name="Marshall 1832" /> 1816. Still employed in the Mediterranean, on 26 August 1818 he was appointed as first lieutenant to HMS ''Rochfort'', of 80 guns, under the flags of Sir Graham Moore and Sir Thomas Fraser Fremantle.<ref name="Byrne 1849" /> He was fitting out ''Rochfort'' as the flagship of Fremantle, who was commander-in-chief on the Mediterranean station.<ref name="Marshall 1832" /> On 11 January 1820 he was appointed to HMS ''Révolutionnaire'', of 46 guns, under Captain Fleetwood Broughton Reynolds Pellew. Continuing to work in the Mediterranean, he was serving again in ''Rochfort'' from 15 April 1820 until promoted to commander. During his time in the Mediterranean, he was involved in several exploits:<ref name="Byrne 1849" /><ref name="Marshall 1832" />

<blockquote>[Sparshott] assisted in the ''Niobe'' at the capture, 20 Oct. 1810, of ''L’Hirondelle'' privateer of 4 guns and 30 men; took part, in the following Nov., in a gallant attack made, in company with the ''Diana'' 38, upon the French 40-gun frigates ''Amazone'' and ''Eliza,'' who were driven under the batteries of La Hogue, where the latter was ultimately burnt; aided in taking, 4 March, 1811, ''Le Loup Marin'' privateer of 16 guns and 64 men; and witnessed, at the close of the same month, the self-destruction, near Cape Barfleur, of the above-named ''Amazone''. While serving as Second-Lieutenant in the ''Warrior'' he experienced a furious hurricane, which dismasted that ship, filled her hold with 11 feet water, and nearly sunk her. In endeavouring on the occasion to clear her of one of a convoy which had run on board of her, he was washed into the sea; but his exertions nevertheless materially contributed to extricate her from her critical situation. As First-Lieutenant of the ''Forester'', ''Myrmidon'', ''Tagus'', and ''Rochfort'', Mr. Sparshott acquired much professional reputation and succeeded by his eminent good qualities in securing the friendship and esteem of his superiors.<ref name="Byrne 1849" /></blockquote>

On the ''Rochfort'', at anchor in the Bay of Naples, Lt Sparshott encouraged his men to furl sails faster than the crew of HMS ''Révolutionnaire'', and the ''Rochfort'' crew won. Immediately afterwards, Sparshott called up the ship's prisoners to the quarter-deck. Bechervaise (1847) describes what happened next:<ref name="Bechervaise 1847" />{{rp|55,56}}

<blockquote>Mr S. addressed them as follows. "Now gentry, there are some of you before me who deserve as good a flogging as ever was given in the navy, but I'll whitewash you all." Observing that one of the prisoners was about to thank him, he said, "Don't thank me sir, thank your shipmates for having done your work and their own smartly and well;" then taking the list from the master-at-arms, he tore it to pieces, and pitched the fragments through the port.<ref name="Bechervaise 1847" />{{rp|55,56}}</blockquote>

<gallery> Opyt and Salsette.jpg|HMS ''Baltic'', or ''Opyt'', built 1806, in foreground H.M.S. Caledonia, 120guns, lying in Plymouth Sound - RMG PY0771 (cropped).jpg |HMS ''Caledonia'' (b.1808) NIOBE 1800 RMG J5257.jpg|HMS ''Niobe'' (b.1800) HMS 'Warrior' protecting a convoy passing Reefness, September 1807 RMG BHC0578.tiff|HMS ''Warrior'' (b.1781) MYRMIDON 1813 RMG J6929.jpg|HMS ''Myrmidon'' (b.1813) HMS Tagus (1813) in 1815 at Malta.jpg|HMS ''Tagus'' (b.1813) HMS Rochefort during the interment of Sir Thos. Fremantle 22nd Dec 1829 at Baia Bay Naples RMG PW8021 (cropped).jpg|HMS ''Rochfort'' (b.1814) HMS Revolutionnaire-Antoine Roux.png|HMS ''Révolutionnaire'' (b. 1794) </gallery>

===Commander, 1821–1828=== Sparshott was promoted to commander on 29 January 1821.<ref>{{cite book |title=Navy List 1827: Commanders with the dates of their seniority |date=1827 |publisher=Royal Navy |location=Portsmouth |page=13/223 |url=https://archive.org/details/navylist12admigoog/page/n222/mode/2up?view=theater&q=sparshott |access-date=23 September 2023 |quote=Edward Sparshott 23 Jan 1821}}</ref> On 15 April 1821, he was appointed to ''Rochfort'' as 1st lieutenant. In 1824 he was appointed to the Coast Guard.<ref name="Byrne 1849" />

===Second captain and captain, 1828–1838=== From 28 August 1828 until his name was posted as captain in ''The London Gazette'' and the Navy List on 22 July 1830,<ref name="Byrne 1849" /><ref name="RN exec officers" >{{cite web |title=R.N. executive officers |url=https://sites.rootsweb.com/~pbtyc/Nbd/exec/S/Index.html |website=sites.rootsweb.com |publisher=Rootsweb and Ancestry |access-date=22 August 2023 |date=2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Navy List, 1834: Captains, with their dates of seniority |date=1834 |publisher=Royal Navy |location=Portsmouth |page=10 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jg8YAAAAMAAJ |access-date=23 September 2023 |quote=Edward Sparshott, K.H., 22 July 1830}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=List of Royal Navy Post Captains 1714-1830, version 4 |url=https://www.navyrecords.org.uk/site/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Royal-Navy-Post-Captains-list-v.-4.pdf |website=navyrecords.org.uk |publisher=Royal Navy |access-date=27 September 2023}}</ref> he was appointed second captain of HMS ''Prince Regent'', of 120 guns, under the flag of Sir Henry Blackwood, based on the River Medway near Chatham Dockyard.<ref name="Byrne 1849" /><ref name="Marshall 1832" />

As a captain, Sparshott was described in the memoirs of a former crew member, thus:<ref name="Bechervaise 1847" >{{cite book |last1=Bechervaise |first1=John |title=A Farewell to My Old Shipmates and Messmates |date=1847 |publisher=W. Woodward |location=England |edition=1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Aa5WAAAAcAAJ&dq=Edward+Sparshott+-Francis&pg=PR1 |access-date=28 August 2023}}{{rp|52}}</ref>

<blockquote>[At some date between 1828 and 1832, in the 74-gun HMS ''Rochfort'', under Captain C.M. Schomberg, Lt Sparshott] now an old post-captain, [was] as strict a disciplinarian, and as smart an officer, as could well be met with. Ships of war had not, in those days, arrived at that flying method of performing their various evolutions to which they have now attained; but the ''Rochfort'''s ship's company were smart in all their motions. Indeed, with Mr. S., they must be so; for although every order was rigorously enforced, it was done without a shadow of tyranny.<ref name="Bechervaise 1847" />{{rp|52}}</blockquote>

Following a recommendation from William IV, from 4 June 1834 until June 1838 Sparshott was in command as flag captain of HMS ''Winchester'', of 52 guns, in the East Indies, Chatham, and Portsmouth under Sir Thomas Bladen Capel.<ref name="Byrne 1849" /><ref name="Homeward Mail 17 November 1873" /><ref>{{cite book |title=Navy List, 1834. |date=1834 |publisher=Royal Navy |location=Portsmouth |page=84 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jg8YAAAAMAAJ |access-date=23 September 2023 |quote=Winchester, 52, East Indies. Captain, Edw. Sparshott, K.H., 4 Jun 1834}}</ref> As captain of ''Winchester'', he "rendered important services in quelling an insurrection on the coast of Malabar in 1837".<ref name="Navy List 1855 p.53" /> Byrne (1849) says:<ref name="Byrne 1849" />

<blockquote>In 1837 [Sparshott] was sent with a body of troops and two steamers and a corvette of the Indian Navy under his orders, to suppress an insurrection in the province of Canara; and so prompt and successful were his arrangements that he received the written thanks of the Governors in Council of Madras and Bombay, and the fullest approbation of his Commander-in-Chief.<ref name="Byrne 1849" /></blockquote>

<gallery> Post Captain (cropped).jpg|Uniform of a post-captain HMS Prince Regent at The British Fleet at Spithead in July 1853 ILN-1853-0806-0033 (cropped).jpg|HMS ''Prince Regent'' (b.1823) H.M.S. Winchester RMG PY0825 (cropped).jpg|HMS ''Winchester'' (b.1822) </gallery>

===Retired rear-admiral, vice-admiral, admiral, 1838–1873=== On 6 June 1838, Sparshott was paid off,<ref name="Byrne 1849" /> and his name appears as a retired captain in the Navy List of December 1848.<ref name="RN exec officers" /> He was promoted to retired rear admiral on 4 October 1855,<ref name="Homeward Mail 17 November 1873" /><ref name="Edinburgh Gazette 9 October 1855" >{{cite news |title=Admiralty, October 4, 1855 |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/Edinburgh/issue/6534/page/1253 |access-date=22 August 2023 |work=Edinburgh Gazette |agency= |via=thegazette.co.uk |issue=6534 |date=9 October 1855 |page=1253}}</ref> at £365 ({{Inflation|UK|365|1855|fmt=eq|r=2|cursign=£}}) per annum,<ref>{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/navylist00allegoog/page/n52/mode/2up?view=theater&q=sparshott |title=Navy List 1855: Retired captains with their dates of several commissions |date=1855 |publisher=Parker, Furnivall & Parker |location=London |page=36 |quote=Edward Sparshott. Captain 22 July 1830, commander 29 January 1821, lieutenant 28 April 1809. O.P.G., Knight of Red Eagle of Prussia}}</ref>{{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y}} then promoted to retired vice-admiral on 4 or 13 October 1862.<ref name="RN exec officers" /><ref name="Homeward Mail 17 November 1873" /><ref name="Edinburgh Gazette 17 October 1862" >{{cite news |title=Admiralty, October 13, 1862 |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/Edinburgh/issue/7267/page/1593 |access-date=22 August 2023 |work=Edinburgh Gazette |agency= |via=thegazette.co.uk |issue=7267 |date=17 October 1862 |page=1593}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Navy List. Naval and Marine officers of the Royal Hanoverian Guelphic Order. |date=1854 |publisher=John Murray |location=London |page=144 |url=https://archive.org/details/navylist06admigoog/page/143/mode/2up?view=theater&q=Sparshott |access-date=24 September 2023 |quote=Knights. Vice Admiral Edward Sparshott. Knight of Hanover 19 April 1831}}</ref> He was finally promoted to retired-admiral on 2 April 1866,<ref>{{cite book |title=Navy List 1868 |date=1868 |publisher=Clowes |location=London |page=423 |url=https://archive.org/details/navylist07admigoog/page/423/mode/2up?view=theater |access-date=24 September 2023 |quote=Sparshott, Edward, K.H., A(dmiral). 2 April 1866}}</ref> and retained this rank until his death in 1873.<ref name="Weeks Niews 15 November 1873" /><ref name="RN exec officers" /><ref name="Edinburgh Gazette 6 April 1866" >{{cite news |title=Admiralty, April 2, 1866 |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/Edinburgh/issue/7630/page/422 |access-date=22 August 2023 |work=The Edinburgh Gazette |agency= |via=thegazette.co.uk |date=6 April 1866 |page=422 |issue=7630}}</ref><ref name="London Gazette 3 April 1866" >{{cite news |title=Admiralty, 2nd April, 1866 |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/23094/page/2190 |access-date=22 August 2023 |work=Supplement to London Gazette |agency= |via=thegazette.co.uk |date=3 April 1866 |page=2190 |issue=23094}}</ref>

===Greenwich out-pensioner, 1846–1873===  Sparshott was accepted as an out-pensioner of Greenwich Hospital, London, on 4 November 1846.<ref name="Byrne 1849" />

==Awards== On 19 April 1831, Sparshott was nominated a Knight of Hanover (K.H.).<ref name="Byrne 1849" /><ref>{{cite book |title=Navy List, 1834: Naval and marine officers of the Royal Hanoverian Guelphic Order. Knights |date=1834 |publisher=Royal Navy |location=Portsmouth |page=57 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jg8YAAAAMAAJ |access-date=23 September 2023 |quote=Captain Edward Sparshott 19 Apr 1831}}</ref> He received the Order of the Red Eagle, making him a Knight of the Red Eagle of Prussia (K.R.E.), from the King of Prussia in 1832.<ref>{{cite book |title=Navy List 1855: Officers of the Royal Navy ... having received foreign orders, whose names have not appeared in ''London Gazette'' Captains. |date=1855 |publisher=Parker, Furnivall & Parker |location=London |page=215 |url=https://archive.org/details/navylist00allegoog/page/n230/mode/2up?view=theater&q=sparshott |access-date=24 September 2023 |quote=E. Sparshott, Kt of Red Eagle.}}</ref><ref>''The Nautical Magazine'', 4 May 1832</ref>

<gallery> GuelphenOrden HoferAntikschmuckBerlin.jpg|Royal Guelphic Order PrRAO4obv.jpg|Order of the Red Eagle </gallery>

==Business== In 1841, when both Sparshott and his brother Samuel were captains, they were patrons of the floating breakwater which had been invented by captain Tayler. The breakwater protected harbours from ocean swell, and was said to be less liable to storm damage than rigid wooden structures. It was a commercial endeavour which called for investors.<ref>{{cite news |title=Patrons of the floating breakwater |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001702/18411027/010/0001 |access-date=23 August 2023 |work=Shipping and Mercantile Gazette |agency= |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |date=27 October 1841 |page=1 col.4}}</ref>

==Notes== {{Reflist|group=nb}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category-inline|Edward Sparshott}} * {{Cite NBD1849 |wstitle= Sparshott, Edward |volume= 20.11 | pages= 1101-1102 |short=}}

Category:1788 births Category:1873 deaths Category:Royal Navy admirals Category:People from Hampshire Category:Royal Navy personnel of the Napoleonic Wars

Edward Sparshott

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