Robert Winthrop Simpson
Encyclopedia
Robert Winthrop Simpson (1799 - December 23, 1877) was a Rear-Admiral of the Chilean navy and a hero of the War of the Confederation
.
, as a midshipman on the sloop Rose. By 1821 he already was a second lieutenant on the Chilean navy. In the same year, during the independence war of Peru, he participated of the capture in Callao
of the Spanish ships Resolución, San Fernando and Milagro, being promoted as a reward to Captain on October 7, 1821.
Admiral Cochrane gave him the command of the Araucano and ordered him to Acapulco, to harass Spanish shipping. From there, he moved onto California to purchase supplies. While on port, the British under-officer convinced the foreign crew to take over the ship and leave for Australia, leaving him behind. Back in Chile, in 1824 was given the command of the Voltaire, and together with the Galvarino under the command of captain Cobbet maintained the blockade of the Chiloé islands during 4 months. In 1825, participated in the blockade of Callao, under Admiral Manuel Blanco Encalada
.
He participated actively on all the naval encounters of the war of independence in Chile and Peru between 1825 and 1826. When the Chilean fleet was dispersed in that year (1826), Simpson went into the reserve and took command of the Peruvian ship Congreso. In 1827 took command of a Mexican ship also named Congreso. He finally returned to Chile in 1829, when named Naval Governor of Coquimbo
. From 1830 to 1836 commanded the Aquiles and in December 1834 became the first Chilean hydrographer. On 1836 he was in command of the Valparaíso
, flagship of Admiral Blanco Encalada
when war was declared.
On January 26, 1837, during the War of the Confederation
, he was named commander of the Aquiles, and his first mission was to notify the Confederate government of the Chilean government's repudiation of the Treaty of Paucarpata. Later he cruised the Peruvian coast and was in charge of disturbing their commerce. He captured the Confederación, taking its command.
On January 12, 1839 while the Chilean squadron under his command was at Casma taking provisions, it was attacked by the Confederate fleet under the command of the French sailor Juan Blanchet. At the Naval Battle of Casma the Chileans had a resounding victory. During the battle Blanchet was killed and the Confederate ship Arequipeño was sunk, but not before the Chilean fleet had been badly battered. Nonetheless, the defeat of the Confederate fleet at Casma by the smaller Chilean squadron left Chile in absolute control of the southeastern Pacific. As a reward, Simpson was promoted to Commodore
on May 8, 1839.
at the Battle of Yungay
, he returned to Chile along with the fleet. Between 1840 and 1852 he had a long and varied career in the Chilean navy, rising as high as becoming General Commander of the Navy
twice. In 1848 he was in command of the frigate
Chile, Chile's training ship, there he had Francisco Hudson
as subordinate.
On January 15, 1852 he adopted the Chilean nationality, and was elected Senator. That year he travelled to Europe to supervise the construction of the Esmeralda, the fabled Chilean ship, becoming its first commander. In 1853 he became a Rear-Admiral. He continued his naval career until 1871, when he retired after 53 years in the navy.
He married twice. First to Mercedes Baeza, a Chilean lady with whom had 3 sons. After becoming a widower, he remarried in 1843 to Catalina Searle, widow of fellow officer James L. Swett, with whom had another 4 children. He died in Valparaíso
on December 23, 1877.
War of the Confederation
The War of the Confederation , was a conflict between the Peru-Bolivian Confederation on one side and Chile, Peruvian dissidents and Argentina, on the other, fought mostly in the actual territory of Peru and which ended with a Confederate defeat and the dissolution of the...
.
Early life
He was born in England , probably in 1799, and arrived to Chile with the train of then-Lord CochraneThomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald
Admiral Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald, 1st Marquess of Maranhão, GCB, ODM , styled Lord Cochrane between 1778 and 1831, was a senior British naval flag officer and radical politician....
, as a midshipman on the sloop Rose. By 1821 he already was a second lieutenant on the Chilean navy. In the same year, during the independence war of Peru, he participated of the capture in Callao
Callao
Callao is the largest and most important port in Peru. The city is coterminous with the Constitutional Province of Callao, the only province of the Callao Region. Callao is located west of Lima, the country's capital, and is part of the Lima Metropolitan Area, a large metropolis that holds almost...
of the Spanish ships Resolución, San Fernando and Milagro, being promoted as a reward to Captain on October 7, 1821.
Admiral Cochrane gave him the command of the Araucano and ordered him to Acapulco, to harass Spanish shipping. From there, he moved onto California to purchase supplies. While on port, the British under-officer convinced the foreign crew to take over the ship and leave for Australia, leaving him behind. Back in Chile, in 1824 was given the command of the Voltaire, and together with the Galvarino under the command of captain Cobbet maintained the blockade of the Chiloé islands during 4 months. In 1825, participated in the blockade of Callao, under Admiral Manuel Blanco Encalada
Manuel Blanco Encalada
Manuel José Blanco y Calvo de Encalada was a Vice-Admiral in the Chilean Navy, a political figure, and Chile's first President .-Biography:...
.
He participated actively on all the naval encounters of the war of independence in Chile and Peru between 1825 and 1826. When the Chilean fleet was dispersed in that year (1826), Simpson went into the reserve and took command of the Peruvian ship Congreso. In 1827 took command of a Mexican ship also named Congreso. He finally returned to Chile in 1829, when named Naval Governor of Coquimbo
Coquimbo
Coquimbo is a port city, commune and capital of the Elqui Province, located on the Pan-American Highway, in the Coquimbo Region of Chile. Coquimbo lies in a valley south of La Serena, with which it forms Greater La Serena with more than 400,000 inhabitants. The commune spans an area around the...
. From 1830 to 1836 commanded the Aquiles and in December 1834 became the first Chilean hydrographer. On 1836 he was in command of the Valparaíso
Valparaíso
Valparaíso is a city and commune of Chile, center of its third largest conurbation and one of the country's most important seaports and an increasing cultural center in the Southwest Pacific hemisphere. The city is the capital of the Valparaíso Province and the Valparaíso Region...
, flagship of Admiral Blanco Encalada
Manuel Blanco Encalada
Manuel José Blanco y Calvo de Encalada was a Vice-Admiral in the Chilean Navy, a political figure, and Chile's first President .-Biography:...
when war was declared.
War of the Confederation
War of the Confederation
The War of the Confederation , was a conflict between the Peru-Bolivian Confederation on one side and Chile, Peruvian dissidents and Argentina, on the other, fought mostly in the actual territory of Peru and which ended with a Confederate defeat and the dissolution of the...
, he was named commander of the Aquiles, and his first mission was to notify the Confederate government of the Chilean government's repudiation of the Treaty of Paucarpata. Later he cruised the Peruvian coast and was in charge of disturbing their commerce. He captured the Confederación, taking its command.
On January 12, 1839 while the Chilean squadron under his command was at Casma taking provisions, it was attacked by the Confederate fleet under the command of the French sailor Juan Blanchet. At the Naval Battle of Casma the Chileans had a resounding victory. During the battle Blanchet was killed and the Confederate ship Arequipeño was sunk, but not before the Chilean fleet had been badly battered. Nonetheless, the defeat of the Confederate fleet at Casma by the smaller Chilean squadron left Chile in absolute control of the southeastern Pacific. As a reward, Simpson was promoted to Commodore
Commodore (rank)
Commodore is a military rank used in many navies that is superior to a navy captain, but below a rear admiral. Non-English-speaking nations often use the rank of flotilla admiral or counter admiral as an equivalent .It is often regarded as a one-star rank with a NATO code of OF-6, but is not always...
on May 8, 1839.
Later life
After the dissolution of the ConfederationPeru-Bolivian Confederation
The Peru–Bolivian Confederation was a short-lived confederate state that existed in South America between 1836 and 1839. Its first and only head of state, titled Supreme Protector, was the Bolivian president, Marshal Andrés de Santa Cruz....
at the Battle of Yungay
Battle of Yungay
The Battle of Yungay effectively destroyed the Peru-Bolivian Confederation created by Bolivian Marshal Andrés de Santa Cruz in 1836...
, he returned to Chile along with the fleet. Between 1840 and 1852 he had a long and varied career in the Chilean navy, rising as high as becoming General Commander of the Navy
Chilean Navy
-Independence Wars of Chile and Peru :The Chilean Navy dates back to 1817. A year before, following the Battle of Chacabuco, General Bernardo O'Higgins prophetically declared "this victory and another hundred shall be of no significance if we do not gain control of the sea".This led to the...
twice. In 1848 he was in command of the frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
Chile, Chile's training ship, there he had Francisco Hudson
Francisco Hudson
thumb|right|250px|Map showing in yellow the main route used to reach [[Punta Arenas]] by sea from [[Ancud]], and in orange Hudson's proposed route. The red dot shows the 20 km wide [[Ofqui Isthmus]] the only obstacle that makes this route intransitable....
as subordinate.
On January 15, 1852 he adopted the Chilean nationality, and was elected Senator. That year he travelled to Europe to supervise the construction of the Esmeralda, the fabled Chilean ship, becoming its first commander. In 1853 he became a Rear-Admiral. He continued his naval career until 1871, when he retired after 53 years in the navy.
He married twice. First to Mercedes Baeza, a Chilean lady with whom had 3 sons. After becoming a widower, he remarried in 1843 to Catalina Searle, widow of fellow officer James L. Swett, with whom had another 4 children. He died in Valparaíso
Valparaíso
Valparaíso is a city and commune of Chile, center of its third largest conurbation and one of the country's most important seaports and an increasing cultural center in the Southwest Pacific hemisphere. The city is the capital of the Valparaíso Province and the Valparaíso Region...
on December 23, 1877.
See also
- Francisco HudsonFrancisco Hudsonthumb|right|250px|Map showing in yellow the main route used to reach [[Punta Arenas]] by sea from [[Ancud]], and in orange Hudson's proposed route. The red dot shows the 20 km wide [[Ofqui Isthmus]] the only obstacle that makes this route intransitable....
- Francisco Vidal GormazFrancisco Vidal GormazFrancisco Vidal Gormaz was a Chilean naval officer and hydrographer who explored the coasts of Chile including some river systems and lakes. During the 1850s he explored and surveyed several times Maullín River with Francisco Hudson...