Mingay
History Web Pages (MHWP)
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The following item first appeared in “Suffolk Roots” under the title “Phoenix Tales No13” but for purposes of display on the web has been amended by the Author.ADMIRAL WILLIAM JAMES MINGAY, R.N.This gentleman was born at Thetford, Norfolk, England on the 20 Jan.1784, being baptised on 27 Oct. 1785 at St. Mary's, Thetford. He was the eldest son of William Robert MINGAY, surgeon and his wife Mary (nee HARVEY); James MINGAY, KC being his uncle and was a sponsor at his baptism. It is said that he married about the age of 20 to Cornelia MEURER (born c.1799 in Leicester?) at Penang (?Pinang), Strait Settlements (believed now to be Malaysia), they had two children, a son Parker Fuller MINGAY born c.1817 at Thetford and a daughter Cornelia Ann M. MINGAY, born c.1821 at Beacondale, Norfolk (NB in 1881 Census she is stated to be 64 years old hence born c.1817). He died 30 Nov.1865 at ‘Hyperion Cottage’, Rosherville1 now a suburb of Gravesend, Kent and was buried in Gravesend Cemetery 2 . Whilst William James MINGAY career, spanning from Midshipman to Admiral, never reaching the acclamation of the public & country as did Lord NELSON (both Norfolk born), he still had his own list of creditable exploits. He is said to have been a midshipman on board ‘HMS Magnificent’ having 74 guns and Captained by W.H.Jarvis, when the ship was wrecked near Brest, France on 25 Mar.1804. In 1805(6 July) he was nominated a Sub-Lieutenant and was appointed to ‘HMS Belligerent’, 64 guns, under Captain the Hon.George BYNG (later to become Viscount TORRINGTON), under whose command he served on shore with Naval Brigade at the capture of the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa. After which we lose sight of him until his appointment, on the 6 Mar 1816 3 as a first Lieutenant of ‘HMS Iridous’, a 36 gun Frigate, Captain William KING. One piece of his career was reported in the ‘Ipswich Journal’ dated 2 April 1817 which stated he was the nephew of the late Counsellor James MINGAY and was appointed first Lieutenant of the “Royal George” Yacht being fitted out at Deptford for the reception of the Prince Regent.. Another source reported that he was the senior Lieutenant of the ‘Royal George’ Yacht bearing the Royal Standard during the present majestys’ (King George IV) aquatic excursions in the neighbourhood of Portsmouth 4 . Navy Lists 5 quote the Captain of the ‘Royal George’ to be Captain Sir Edward BERRY (4 Sep 1815) with Lieutenants W.J.MINGAY & Hon. W. WALDESGRAVE (21 Jul1817) In Lockharts’ “Life of Sir Walter Scott, Bart.”, Edinburgh edition 1902, referring to the Kings’ arrival at Leith, Scotland in the ‘Royal George’ related “that on receiving the Poet on the quarterdeck His Majesty called for a bottle of Highland whiskey, and having drunk his health in the national liquor, Sir Walter desired a glass to be filled for him & after draining his bumper made a request that the King bestow on him the glass out of which his Majesty had just his health; and this was granted, the vessel was immediately wrapped up he (Sir Walter) carefully deposited in what he conceived to be the safest part of his dress; so he returned with it to Castle Street.” Nothing is related in the above book of its presentation back to the King, but on his return in the Royal Yacht His Majesty gave to Captain W.J.MINGAY the ‘toddy cup’ presented to him in Scotland by Sir Walter SCOTT. It was of cut glass engraved with the Scotch Thistle. Subsequently it was stated by the Admiral daughter Cornelia Ann to have been passed on to William Robert MINGAY, in 1889, the eldest nephew of the Admiral, who in turned gave it to his son Herve MINGAY of St. Paul's, Minnesota, USA. However the descendants of this family (Trevor Herve MINGAY) has no recollection of seeing the glass, so be on the look out for such a glass it just might be the one with such provenance. Returning back to his career William James MINGAY was assigned on 2 Oct 1817 to be the Commander of the 10 gunned Sloop “HMS Chameleon” stationed at Portsmouth. Within the 1821 Royal Naval Lists they state he was a Captain of that vessel being made-up to that rank on 1 Oct 1818, the other officers on board were Lieutenants B.M WHITING (14 Oct.1819) & Chas.WHITMAN (3 Oct 1818), Surgeon J.LOUDEN (2 Oct.1818) & Purser Thos. ALLEN (1 Oct.1818). Later in 29 Jan.1822 he is Commissioned to be a Post Captain but no ship is named, but on 22 Jul.1824 he was appointed to the “Romney” a 50 gun armed Flute at Chatham, Kent this was followed by in 8 Jan.1825 of the captaincy of the ‘Hyperion’ 42 gun Frigate at Newhaven (on blockade duty, whatever that meant) this appointment lasted till 1831. (note, he might have named his house in Rosherville after this ship). Between 1831 & 1851 he is still a Captain but without a ship, presumably behind a desk in the Admiralty or elsewhere, then in 1852 (1 Oct) he becomes a Rear Admiral of the White. 1854 sees him as a Rear Admiral of the Blue and in 1857 (4 Nov) is a Vice Admiral of the White 6 this rank/office is held until 1859. Further entries in the Royal Navy Lists show him to be an Admiral but on Reserve & half pay and the final entry is on 20 Dec.1865 which is his Obituary.
Notes:-
1) The area known as Rosherville lay between the river front (Thames) and London Road & between the towns of Northfleet & Gravesend, Kent, once a centre for high class residential development but never reached its full potential.
2) Taken from ‘Modern English Biography’, Boase.
3) All dates after names are the date of appointment to the stated Rank and are taken from the Royal Navy Lists from 1815 to 1865 which where in the Garrison Library, Gibraltar.
4) An extract from Marshall's’ Royal Naval Biography, Vol.VI, supplement part III & IV, pages379, (1829)
5) The Royal Navy Lists were produced twice a year and showing in order of seniority of each the Officer ranks within the Navy, starting with Admirals through the Captains, Commanders, Lieutenants, Master Surgeons & finally Pursers. They also show, amongst many other details, the current rate of pay, medals obtained by each ship & an obituary section. To the Navy of the day these Lists were of prime importance for it enabled who had the right to be in charge in the case of the demise of the current head.
6) For more information about the Ranks in the Royal Navy before 1864 try www.users.sisna.com/justinb/unifhome.html Tony MINGAY (mingay@one-name.org )
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