Isaac Schomberg
Encyclopedia
Captain Isaac Schomberg was a highly controversial officer of the British Royal Navy
whose constant disputes with senior officers resulted in courts-martial, lawsuits and the eventual stagnation of his career. However, despite his contentious nature, Schomberg was a brave officer who gained distinction in several actions during the American Revolutionary
and French Revolutionary Wars
. He finished his career as a commissioner of the Navy and devoted most of the last fifteen years of his life to writing an influential history of naval operations in and around Britain.
Schomberg was born in London to Ralph Schomberg
, son of Meyer Löw Schomberg
both prominent physicians of German Jewish descent, although his father had converted to the Anglican faith in his youth. His mother was Elizabeth Crowcher, daughter of a wealthy merchant from Wapping
. One of ten children with seven uncles, Schomberg's family were very prominent in middle-class eighteenth century London and Isaac (not to be confused with his uncle Isaac Schomberg, a prominent doctor) grew up in a literary environment, his father a common contributor to medical and literary journals.
. He was initially attached to the royal yacht Royal Charlotte but within six months had secured a position on his uncle Alexander Schomberg
's ship HMS Prudent
. In 1771 he was again transferred, to HMS Trident
, commanded by Sir Peter Denis. For the next three years Schomberg served on Trident in the Mediterranean, with two brief detachments to other ships. At the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War
, Schomberg moved to HMS Romney
on the Newfoundland station.
Aboard Romney, Schomberg came to the attention of a succession of senior officers, including George Elphinstone, Robert Duff and John Montagu. This patronage enabled his advancement to lieutenant
and command of the schooner HMS Labrador and brig HMS Hinchinbroke. In 1778, Schomberg returned to Europe aboard HMS Europe. In 1779, Schomberg took position on the ship of the line
HMS Canada
, whose captain commended him on his excellent seamanship. In 1781, Canada was at the relief of the Great Siege of Gibraltar
and later in the same year captured the Spanish frigate Santa Leocadia. By the end of the year, Schomberg was in the West Indies and saw action in Canada at the Battle of St Kitts and the Battle of the Saintes
, where he distinguished himself.
, Schomberg was unemployed until 1786 on half-pay. Returning to the sea, Schomberg was appointed mentor to the notoriously prickly Prince William Henry
, then serving as captain of HMS Pegasus. Schomberg was far older and more experienced than his commander and also possessed an aggressive temperament, the two rapidly becoming embroiled in a series of bitter and long-lasting disputes. Eventually, in 1787 whilst stationed in the West Indies, Nelson solved the problem by removing Schomberg from Pegasus under arrest for a charge trumped-up by William. Within days, the charges were quietly dropped and Schomberg returned to Britain. Three months later Sir Samuel Hood
appointed Schomberg to his flagship Barfleur. Hood had served with both Schomberg and Prince William before and was well aware of the circumstances of the argument, appointing Schomberg in the hopes of ending the dispute. This hope was dashed when William responded with a torrent of extremely offensive letters to Schomberg, Hood and anyone else who would listen.
In 1788 Schomberg was appointed to HMS Crown
under an old friend, William Cornwallis
. For the next two years Schomberg served as acting captain of Crown and then commander of HMS Atalanta in the Indian Ocean
, a period in which he was described as "happy beyond expression". Controversy was not far behind however, and in 1790 Schomberg sent two offensive letters to the colonial government in Madras complaining that his ship had not been given the correct salute
when it entered the port. These letters were passed on to Sir Richard Strachan
and Cornwallis who were so shocked at Schomberg's effrontery that he was dismissed his ship and sent back to England. Cornwallis did however recommend that no further action be taken against him, commenting that the dispute with Prince William had embittered his former friend. Before news of this controversy reached England, Schomberg had been promoted to post captain.
, Schomberg married Amelia Brodrick, a parson's daughter from Stradbally, Ireland
. The couple would have several children including four surviving sons. Later in the year, Schomberg was made captain of HMS Vanguard
and early in 1794 moved to HMS Culloden
with the Channel Fleet under Lord Howe
. With this fleet, Culloden was engaged at the Glorious First of June
, but Schomberg was heavily criticised for not entering the action until late in the day when most of the fighting was over. He was not awarded the medal given to most of the captains at the battle and, like many officers passed over for recognition in the action, suffered a permanent stain on his record. In 1795, Schomberg was appointed to the large frigate HMS Magnanime
and served off Ireland until 1796 escorting convoys. This was his last sea-going command, his controversial behaviour making him politically undesirable and poor health making him less able serve effectively.
in Wiltshire
in 1796, Schomberg returned to a lifelong project, a historical work in five volumes named "A Naval chronology, or, An historical summary of naval and maritime events from the time of the Romans to the treaty of peace, 1802". This seminal work contained, in addition to a prose history, several detailed and extensive appendices. In 1801 he took command of the local Sea Fencibles
, a coastal militia force, and in 1808 was responsible for their disbandment, reasoning that the country was no longer in danger from French invasion. For this he was made a commissioner of the Navy and he remained in that position until his death in 1813 at his home in Cadogan Place
, Chelsea, London
. He was buried in the family crypt at St George in the East
, Stepney
.
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...
whose constant disputes with senior officers resulted in courts-martial, lawsuits and the eventual stagnation of his career. However, despite his contentious nature, Schomberg was a brave officer who gained distinction in several actions during the American Revolutionary
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
and French Revolutionary Wars
French Revolutionary Wars
The French Revolutionary Wars were a series of major conflicts, from 1792 until 1802, fought between the French Revolutionary government and several European states...
. He finished his career as a commissioner of the Navy and devoted most of the last fifteen years of his life to writing an influential history of naval operations in and around Britain.
Schomberg was born in London to Ralph Schomberg
Ralph Schomberg
Ralph or Raphael Schomberg was a British doctor of the 18th century.His father, Meyer Löw Schomberg, was a Jewish doctor who settled in England, but he became alienated from Judaism and had Ralph and his brothers, who had initially been brought up as Jews, attend St Paul's School, London, and then...
, son of Meyer Löw Schomberg
Meyer Löw Schomberg
Meyer Löw Schomberg was a German-Jewish physician who moved to London and had a successful business there.-Life:...
both prominent physicians of German Jewish descent, although his father had converted to the Anglican faith in his youth. His mother was Elizabeth Crowcher, daughter of a wealthy merchant from Wapping
Wapping
Wapping is a place in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets which forms part of the Docklands to the east of the City of London. It is situated between the north bank of the River Thames and the ancient thoroughfare simply called The Highway...
. One of ten children with seven uncles, Schomberg's family were very prominent in middle-class eighteenth century London and Isaac (not to be confused with his uncle Isaac Schomberg, a prominent doctor) grew up in a literary environment, his father a common contributor to medical and literary journals.
American Revolutionary War
In 1770, Schomberg became the second of his large family to join the Royal Navy, taking commission as a midshipmanMidshipman
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...
. He was initially attached to the royal yacht Royal Charlotte but within six months had secured a position on his uncle Alexander Schomberg
Alexander Schomberg
Captain Sir Alexander Schomberg was an 18th century Royal Navy officer.-Life:His father, Meyer Löw Schomberg , was a German-Jewish doctor and settled in England c. 1720 and set up a flourishing practice in Fenchurch Street, London...
's ship HMS Prudent
HMS Prudent (1768)
HMS Prudent was a 64-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 28 September 1768 at Woolwich.She is listed as being on harbour service in 1779, though she was back in regular service later in the American Revolutionary War as in 1782 she participated in the Battle of St....
. In 1771 he was again transferred, to HMS Trident
HMS Trident (1768)
HMS Trident was a 64-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 20 April 1768 at Portsmouth.Trident was sold out of the navy in 1816....
, commanded by Sir Peter Denis. For the next three years Schomberg served on Trident in the Mediterranean, with two brief detachments to other ships. At the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, Schomberg moved to HMS Romney
HMS Romney (1762)
HMS Romney was a 50-gun fourth rate of the Royal Navy. She served during the American War of Independence, and the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars in a career that spanned forty years....
on the Newfoundland station.
Aboard Romney, Schomberg came to the attention of a succession of senior officers, including George Elphinstone, Robert Duff and John Montagu. This patronage enabled his advancement to 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...
and command of the schooner HMS Labrador and brig HMS Hinchinbroke. In 1778, Schomberg returned to Europe aboard HMS Europe. In 1779, Schomberg took position on the ship of the line
Ship of the line
A ship of the line was a type of naval warship constructed from the 17th through the mid-19th century to take part in the naval tactic known as the line of battle, in which two columns of opposing warships would manoeuvre to bring the greatest weight of broadside guns to bear...
HMS Canada
HMS Canada (1765)
HMS Canada was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 17 September 1765 at Woolwich Dockyard.On 2 May 1781, Canada engaged and captured the Spanish ship Santa Leocadia, of 34 guns....
, whose captain commended him on his excellent seamanship. In 1781, Canada was at the relief of the Great Siege of Gibraltar
Great Siege of Gibraltar
The Great Siege of Gibraltar was an unsuccessful attempt by Spain and France to capture Gibraltar from the British during the American War of Independence. This was the largest action fought during the war in terms of numbers, particularly the Grand Assault of 18 September 1782...
and later in the same year captured the Spanish frigate Santa Leocadia. By the end of the year, Schomberg was in the West Indies and saw action in Canada at the Battle of St Kitts and the Battle of the Saintes
Battle of the Saintes
The Battle of the Saintes took place over 4 days, 9 April 1782 – 12 April 1782, during the American War of Independence, and was a victory of a British fleet under Admiral Sir George Rodney over a French fleet under the Comte de Grasse forcing the French and Spanish to abandon a planned...
, where he distinguished himself.
Dispute with Prince William
Returning to Europe at the peace aboard HMS BarfleurHMS Barfleur (1768)
HMS Barfleur was a 90-gun second-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, designed by Sir Thomas Slade on the lines of the 100-gun ship Royal William, and launched at Chatham Dockyard on 30 July 1768, at a cost of £49,222. In about 1780, she had another eight guns added to her quarterdeck, making...
, Schomberg was unemployed until 1786 on half-pay. Returning to the sea, Schomberg was appointed mentor to the notoriously prickly Prince William Henry
William IV of the United Kingdom
William IV was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until his death...
, then serving as captain of HMS Pegasus. Schomberg was far older and more experienced than his commander and also possessed an aggressive temperament, the two rapidly becoming embroiled in a series of bitter and long-lasting disputes. Eventually, in 1787 whilst stationed in the West Indies, Nelson solved the problem by removing Schomberg from Pegasus under arrest for a charge trumped-up by William. Within days, the charges were quietly dropped and Schomberg returned to Britain. Three months later Sir Samuel Hood
Samuel Hood, 1st Viscount Hood
Samuel Hood, 1st Viscount Hood was a British Admiral known particularly for his service in the American War of Independence and French Revolutionary Wars...
appointed Schomberg to his flagship Barfleur. Hood had served with both Schomberg and Prince William before and was well aware of the circumstances of the argument, appointing Schomberg in the hopes of ending the dispute. This hope was dashed when William responded with a torrent of extremely offensive letters to Schomberg, Hood and anyone else who would listen.
In 1788 Schomberg was appointed to HMS Crown
HMS Crown (1782)
HMS Crown was a 64-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 15 March 1782 at Blackwall Yard.She was converted to serve as a prison ship in 1798, and was broken up in 1816....
under an old friend, William Cornwallis
William Cornwallis
Admiral the Honourable Sir William Cornwallis GCB was a Royal Navy officer who fought in the Napoleonic Wars. He was the brother of Charles Cornwallis, the 1st Marquess Cornwallis, governor-general of India...
. For the next two years Schomberg served as acting captain of Crown and then commander of HMS Atalanta in the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
, a period in which he was described as "happy beyond expression". Controversy was not far behind however, and in 1790 Schomberg sent two offensive letters to the colonial government in Madras complaining that his ship had not been given the correct salute
Salute
A salute is a gesture or other action used to display respect. Salutes are primarily associated with armed forces, but other organizations and civil people also use salutes.-Military salutes:...
when it entered the port. These letters were passed on to Sir Richard Strachan
Sir Richard Strachan, 6th Baronet
Sir Richard John Strachan, 6th Baronet GCB was a British officer of the Royal Navy during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, eventually rising to the rank of Admiral.-Childhood:...
and Cornwallis who were so shocked at Schomberg's effrontery that he was dismissed his ship and sent back to England. Cornwallis did however recommend that no further action be taken against him, commenting that the dispute with Prince William had embittered his former friend. Before news of this controversy reached England, Schomberg had been promoted to post captain.
French Revolutionary Wars
In 1793, shortly after the outbreak of the French Revolutionary WarsFrench Revolutionary Wars
The French Revolutionary Wars were a series of major conflicts, from 1792 until 1802, fought between the French Revolutionary government and several European states...
, Schomberg married Amelia Brodrick, a parson's daughter from Stradbally, 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...
. The couple would have several children including four surviving sons. Later in the year, Schomberg was made captain of HMS Vanguard
HMS Vanguard (1787)
HMS Vanguard was a 74-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 6 March 1787 at Deptford. She was the sixth vessel to bear the name....
and early in 1794 moved to HMS Culloden
HMS Culloden (1783)
HMS Culloden was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 16 June 1783 at Rotherhithe. She took part in some of the most famous battles of the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars....
with the Channel Fleet under Lord Howe
Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe
Admiral of the Fleet Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe KG was a British naval officer, notable in particular for his service during the American War of Independence and French Revolutionary Wars. He was the brother of William Howe and George Howe.Howe joined the navy at the age of thirteen and served...
. With this fleet, Culloden was engaged at the Glorious First of June
Glorious First of June
The Glorious First of June [Note A] of 1794 was the first and largest fleet action of the naval conflict between the Kingdom of Great Britain and the First French Republic during the French Revolutionary Wars...
, but Schomberg was heavily criticised for not entering the action until late in the day when most of the fighting was over. He was not awarded the medal given to most of the captains at the battle and, like many officers passed over for recognition in the action, suffered a permanent stain on his record. In 1795, Schomberg was appointed to the large frigate HMS Magnanime
HMS Magnanime (1780)
HMS Magnanime was a 64-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 14 October 1780 at Deptford Dockyard. She belonged to the designed by Sir John Williams...
and served off Ireland until 1796 escorting convoys. This was his last sea-going command, his controversial behaviour making him politically undesirable and poor health making him less able serve effectively.
Historian
Retiring to SeendSeend
Seend is a village and civil parish about south-east of the market town of Melksham, Wiltshire. The parish includes the hamlets of Seend Cleeve, Seend Head and The Stocks.Seend village is on a hilltop more than above sea level...
in Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
in 1796, Schomberg returned to a lifelong project, a historical work in five volumes named "A Naval chronology, or, An historical summary of naval and maritime events from the time of the Romans to the treaty of peace, 1802". This seminal work contained, in addition to a prose history, several detailed and extensive appendices. In 1801 he took command of the local Sea Fencibles
Sea Fencibles
The original Sea Fencibles were a naval militia established to provide a close-in line of defense to protect the United Kingdom from invasion by France during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars...
, a coastal militia force, and in 1808 was responsible for their disbandment, reasoning that the country was no longer in danger from French invasion. For this he was made a commissioner of the Navy and he remained in that position until his death in 1813 at his home in Cadogan Place
Cadogan Place
Cadogan Place is a street in Belgravia, London. It is named after Earl Cadogan and runs parallel to the lower half of Sloane Street.-Literary references:Charles Dickens writes of it in Nicholas Nickleby:...
, Chelsea, London
Chelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
. He was buried in the family crypt at St George in the East
St George in the East
St George in the East is an Anglican Church and one of six Hawksmoor churches in London, England, built from 1714 to 1729, with funding from the 1711 Act of Parliament...
, Stepney
Stepney
Stepney is a district of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in London's East End that grew out of a medieval village around St Dunstan's church and the 15th century ribbon development of Mile End Road...
.