George Truman Morrell
Encyclopedia
Commander
George Truman Morrell RN
(29 January 1830 - 7 May 1912) was a British naval
, officer and explorer active during the Victorian era
.
, France, a British subject
. He was the second son of a naval officer, Arthur Fleming Morrell
, and Elizabeth Reid, who was the daughter of a pay officer at the Plymouth Dockyard
. His eldest brother, Charles Walter Morrell, would later die in 1839, aged only 11, leaving George as the eldest son.
George had a younger brother, Arthur Morrell, who was also born in Dinan. Arthur would later become a Rear-Admiral in the Royal Navy.
aboard HMS Calcutta
, Captain
George Frederick Rich commanding.
He would spend seven years as a midshipman
, before becoming a mate
aboard HMS Excellent
in 1849. He was then acting lieutenant
on several occasions, before being confirmed to that rank in 1851.
In 1866, the Foreign Office reported on "great judgement" displayed by George during a daring expedition up the Niger River
aboard HMS Investigator
, a journey he documented in his journal.
During his naval career, George served aboard the following ships:
He was paid off from the navy in 1869, and then served for a short period with the coast guard
in Sligo
, Ireland
, as a division lieutenant. He documented his final year of service in Ireland in another journal, filled with details such as the loss of ships and crew, the recovery of drowning victims ("30th June - Bodies of two young women aged about 16 & 18 both sweetly pretty, laying in our boat house, having been brought off Black rocks near L. House on Saturday, to await coroner's inquest on Monday, 30th June"), and discipline meted out to coast guardsmen ("Sept. 9th - Mr. King to lose one good conduct stripe").
, in a ceremony on 29 August 1861, at St Michael, Highgate
, Middlesex
. The family was mainly settled in Kent, however his son Patrick was born in Dublin, Ireland
, during his service in the coast guard
following his retirement from the navy.
Together, they had several children. They were:
George lived in Belvedere, Kent
, at the time of his death on 7 May 1912.
, a steam-powered, flat-bottomed British
navy gunship. He spent the next several months steaming the ship up the Niger River
, bringing gifts from the British government, in Queen Victoria's name, to tribal kings and elders along the river.
During the voyage, George mediated a dispute between British colonists and King
Obi Akazua, who reigned amongst the people at Onitsha
, Nigeria
. He observed first-hand the slave trade
, which flourished locally despite the cessation of the trade throughout most of the western world.
He recorded his interactions in a hand written diary, including coloured illustrations of fascinating aspects of contemporary West African life along the river, such as this drawing of a brass canoe fitted with an awning and armed with cannons, used for local trade along the river.
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
George Truman Morrell RN
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
(29 January 1830 - 7 May 1912) was a British naval
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, officer and explorer active during the Victorian era
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
.
Early years
George Truman Morrell was born 29 January 1830 in DinanDinan
Dinan is a walled Breton town and a commune in the Côtes-d'Armor department in northwestern France.-Geography:Its geographical setting is exceptional. Instead of nestling on the valley floor like Morlaix, most urban development has been on the hillside, overlooking the river Rance...
, France, a British subject
British subject
In British nationality law, the term British subject has at different times had different meanings. The current definition of the term British subject is contained in the British Nationality Act 1981.- Prior to 1949 :...
. He was the second son of a naval officer, Arthur Fleming Morrell
Arthur Fleming Morrell
Arthur Fleming Morrell was British naval officer, explorer, and colonial administrator of Ascension Island, who saw service spanning the end of the Napoleonic era and well into the Victorian era.- Early naval career :...
, and Elizabeth Reid, who was the daughter of a pay officer at the Plymouth Dockyard
HMNB Devonport
Her Majesty's Naval Base Devonport , is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the Royal Navy . HMNB Devonport is located in Devonport, in the west of the city of Plymouth in Devon, England...
. His eldest brother, Charles Walter Morrell, would later die in 1839, aged only 11, leaving George as the eldest son.
George had a younger brother, Arthur Morrell, who was also born in Dinan. Arthur would later become a Rear-Admiral in the Royal Navy.
Career
George joined the Royal Navy in 1842 at age 12, a first class volunteerMaster's mate
Master's mate is an obsolete rating which was used by the Royal Navy, United States Navy and merchant services in both countries for a senior petty officer who assisted the master...
aboard HMS Calcutta
HMS Calcutta
Five ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Calcutta, after the Indian city of Calcutta .* The first HMS Calcutta was a 54-gun fourth rate, originally the East Indiaman Warley and purchased in 1795, captured by the French in 1805 and destroyed by British ships in 1809.* The second HMS Calcutta...
, Captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
George Frederick Rich commanding.
He would spend seven years as a midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
, before becoming a mate
Master's mate
Master's mate is an obsolete rating which was used by the Royal Navy, United States Navy and merchant services in both countries for a senior petty officer who assisted the master...
aboard HMS Excellent
HMS Excellent
HMS Excellent is a Royal Navy "stone frigate" sited on Whale Island near Portsmouth in Hampshire.HMS Excellent is itself part of the Maritime Warfare School, with a Headquarters at HMS Collingwood, although a number of lodger units are resident within the site, the principal of which is the...
in 1849. He was then acting lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
on several occasions, before being confirmed to that rank in 1851.
In 1866, the Foreign Office reported on "great judgement" displayed by George during a daring expedition up the Niger River
Niger River
The Niger River is the principal river of western Africa, extending about . Its drainage basin is in area. Its source is in the Guinea Highlands in southeastern Guinea...
aboard HMS Investigator
HMS Investigator (1861)
HMS Investigator was a wooden paddle survey vessel of the Royal Navy, built to carry out an expedition on the Gabon River in Africa.Investigator was laid down on 15 June 1861 at Deptford and was launched on 16 November 1861. She was initially commanded by Lieutenant Benjamin Langlois Lefroy off the...
, a journey he documented in his journal.
During his naval career, George served aboard the following ships:
- 1842, HMS CalcuttaHMS Calcutta (1831)HMS Calcutta was an 84-gun second-rate ship-of-the-line of the Royal Navy, built in teak to a draught by Sir Robert Seppings and launched on 14 March 1831 in Bombay. She was the only ship ever built to her draught. She carried her complement of smooth-bore, muzzle-loading guns on two gundecks...
- 1842-1843, HMS MonarchHMS Monarch (1832)HMS Monarch was an 84-gun second rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 18 December 1832 at Chatham Dockyard.She was used as a target ship from 1862, and broken up in 1866....
- 1843-1845, HMS Aigle
- 1845, HMS FormidableHMS Formidable (1825)HMS Formidable was an 84-gun second rate of the Royal Navy, launched on 19 May 1825 at Chatham Dockyard.In 1869 Formidable became a training ship, at the National Nautical School in Portishead, and she was sold out of the navy in 1906.-References:...
- 1845, HMS Siren
- 1849, HMS ExcellentHMS Boyne (1810)HMS Boyne was a 98-gun second rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 3 July 1810 at Portsmouth.On 12 February 1812 she took part with HMS Caledonia in a hot action against the French line-of-battle ship Romulus off Toulon; the French 74 managed to escape to Toulon by sailing close to...
- 1849-1850, HMS PhoenixHMS Phoenix (1832)HMS Phoenix was a 6-gun steam paddle vessel of the Royal Navy, built in a dry dock at Chatham in 1832. She was reclassified as a second-class paddle sloop before bring rebuilt as a 10-gun screw sloop in 1844-45...
- 1850-1851, HMS Helia
- 1851-1852, HMS PhilomelHMS Philomel (1842)HMS Philomel was an 8-gun Alert-class packet brig of the Royal Navy, built between 1840 and 1842. Ships of this class were designed by William Symonds in 1834, and the Philomel was built at Plymouth....
- 1852-1853, HMS DaringHMS Daring (1844)HMS Daring was a 12 gun-brig of the Royal Navy which became part of the Experimental Squadrons of both 1844 and 1845, and later served in the West Indies. She was sold in 1864.-Construction:...
- 1853-1856, HMS ImaunHMS Imaun (1826)HMS Imaun was a 76-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy. She was built in Bombay, and launched on 10 November 1826 for the Imaun of Muscat, who presented the ship to the Royal Navy on 9 March 1836....
- 1861-1865, HMS WellesleyHMS Wellesley (1815)HMS Wellesley was a 74-gun third rate, named for the Duke of Wellington, and launched in 1815. She captured Karachi for the British, and participated in the First Opium War, which resulted in Britain gaining control of Hong Kong...
- 1865, HMS Espoir
- 1865, HMS InvestigatorHMS Investigator (1861)HMS Investigator was a wooden paddle survey vessel of the Royal Navy, built to carry out an expedition on the Gabon River in Africa.Investigator was laid down on 15 June 1861 at Deptford and was launched on 16 November 1861. She was initially commanded by Lieutenant Benjamin Langlois Lefroy off the...
- 1865-1866, HMS Sparrow
- 1866, HMS Espoir
- 1866-1867, HMS Wellesley
- 1867, HMS FisgardHMS Fisgard (1819)HMS Fisgard was a 46-gun fifth rate Leda-class frigate of the Royal Navy. She spent sixty years in service on a variety of duties.-Construction and commissioning:...
- 1867-1868, HMS Wellesley
- 1869-1873, HMS TrafalgarHMS Trafalgar (1841)HMS Trafalgar was a 120-gun first rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 21 June 1841 at Woolwich Dockyard. She was the last to be completed of the successful Caledonia class....
He was paid off from the navy in 1869, and then served for a short period with the coast guard
Coast guard
A coast guard or coastguard is a national organization responsible for various services at sea. However the term implies widely different responsibilities in different countries, from being a heavily armed military force with customs and security duties to being a volunteer organization tasked with...
in Sligo
Sligo
Sligo is the county town of County Sligo in Ireland. The town is a borough and has a charter and a town mayor. It is sometimes referred to as a city, and sometimes as a town, and is the second largest urban area in Connacht...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, as a division lieutenant. He documented his final year of service in Ireland in another journal, filled with details such as the loss of ships and crew, the recovery of drowning victims ("30th June - Bodies of two young women aged about 16 & 18 both sweetly pretty, laying in our boat house, having been brought off Black rocks near L. House on Saturday, to await coroner's inquest on Monday, 30th June"), and discipline meted out to coast guardsmen ("Sept. 9th - Mr. King to lose one good conduct stripe").
Marriage and family
George married Ellen Mary Stretton (b. cir. 1835, d. 21 December 1903), of IslingtonIslington
Islington is a neighbourhood in Greater London, England and forms the central district of the London Borough of Islington. It is a district of Inner London, spanning from Islington High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the area around the busy Upper Street...
, in a ceremony on 29 August 1861, at St Michael, Highgate
Highgate
Highgate is an area of North London on the north-eastern corner of Hampstead Heath.Highgate is one of the most expensive London suburbs in which to live. It has an active conservation body, the Highgate Society, to protect its character....
, Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
. The family was mainly settled in Kent, however his son Patrick was born in Dublin, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, during his service in the coast guard
Coast guard
A coast guard or coastguard is a national organization responsible for various services at sea. However the term implies widely different responsibilities in different countries, from being a heavily armed military force with customs and security duties to being a volunteer organization tasked with...
following his retirement from the navy.
Together, they had several children. They were:
- Arthur Wellesley MorrellArthur Wellesley MorrellPaymaster-Captain Arthur Wellesley Morrell RN was a Freemason and British naval pay officer who served during the latter part of the Victorian era and through to the end of World War I, and who was also present at the Reconquest of the Sudan, the Relief of China, and the Blockade of...
, who also joined the Royal Navy, becoming a Paymaster Captain - William George Henry Morrell, another naval officer
- Rosa Elizabeth Morrell
- Douglas Henry Morrell, another naval officer, who died in 1903
- Alice Fanny Morrell
- Maud Lucy Morrell
- Patrick Frank Arthur Morrell, later a vicarVicarIn the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
- Edith Georgina Morrell
- George Edwin Morrell
- Frank Alfred Morrell
George lived in Belvedere, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, at the time of his death on 7 May 1912.
Niger River Expedition
In late 1865, George, who was then a lieutenant, was given command of HMS InvestigatorHMS Investigator (1861)
HMS Investigator was a wooden paddle survey vessel of the Royal Navy, built to carry out an expedition on the Gabon River in Africa.Investigator was laid down on 15 June 1861 at Deptford and was launched on 16 November 1861. She was initially commanded by Lieutenant Benjamin Langlois Lefroy off the...
, a steam-powered, flat-bottomed British
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
navy gunship. He spent the next several months steaming the ship up the Niger River
Niger River
The Niger River is the principal river of western Africa, extending about . Its drainage basin is in area. Its source is in the Guinea Highlands in southeastern Guinea...
, bringing gifts from the British government, in Queen Victoria's name, to tribal kings and elders along the river.
During the voyage, George mediated a dispute between British colonists and King
Monarch
A monarch is the person who heads a monarchy. This is a form of government in which a state or polity is ruled or controlled by an individual who typically inherits the throne by birth and occasionally rules for life or until abdication...
Obi Akazua, who reigned amongst the people at Onitsha
Onitsha
Onitsha is a city, a commercial, educational, and religious center and river port on the eastern bank of the Niger river in Anambra State, southeastern Nigeria....
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. He observed first-hand the slave trade
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
, which flourished locally despite the cessation of the trade throughout most of the western world.
He recorded his interactions in a hand written diary, including coloured illustrations of fascinating aspects of contemporary West African life along the river, such as this drawing of a brass canoe fitted with an awning and armed with cannons, used for local trade along the river.