William Thornton Bate
Encyclopedia
William Thornton Bate was a surveyor
and officer in the Royal Navy
.
of Ascension Island
. He entered the Royal Naval College
, Portsmouth
at the age of 13, spending two years studying there. He was then appointed as a midshipman
aboard HMS Isis
, and sailed with her to the Cape of Good Hope
. He spent five years at the Cape, transferring to HMS Britannia
and then, on his passing his lieutenant's exam, to HMS Blenheim
. He sailed with the Blenheim to the China Station
. While serving there, the First Opium War
broke out. A party of men from Blenheim was landed to attack Chinese positions. Bate was one of those involved, helping to capture a fort, but being wounded in the neck as he did so. For his actions, he was promoted to lieutenant on 11 October 1841.
. Collinson was responsible for surveying the approaches to Chapoo, and once the troops were landed, Bate accompanied them. He was involved in a hand to hand battle with a Chinese defender. Bate captured him, then opened the gates of the fort to the British, at which the Chinese fled. This earned him a Mention in Despatches from Vice Admiral
William Parker who commanded the force. He returned to England in 1846, and took a series of scientific courses at the colleges at Woolwich
and Portsmouth. He was promoted to Commander in 1848 and given command of HMS Royalist, with which he was to carry out further surveys of the Chinese coast. He was taken ill with smallpox
in 1852, but recovered and was able to complete his surveys, including one of the island of Palawan
. After completing these tasks, Bate returned to England. In January 1856 he was appointed to command HMS Bittern, and to return to Chinese waters to conduct further surveys. He took command in April that year, but it was soon found that the Bittern was unsuitable to the task. Bate sent her back to Britain, transferring his command to the sixth rate HMS Actaeon
, while he awaited the arrival of his new ship.
While cruising off the Chinese coast, the Arrow incident occurred, the prelude to the Second Opium War
, and the British decided to bombard the port of Canton
. Bate was put in charge of the landing parties, and whilst overseeing operations from HMS Barracouta
, was struck on the hand by some shot, and was slightly wounded. After the subduing of resistance, Bate took over and garrisoned a fort with 300 men. He held the fort under siege for five months, before the Admiralty
ordered him to evacuate. He returned to the Actaeon, then at Hong Kong
. As a reward for his services, he was promoted to Captain. Bate returned to Canton in November 1857, and delivered Lord Elgin's
ultimatum to the Chinese officials. There being no reply, the navy began to bombard the port on 28 December.
, he was hit in the right breast by a ball fired from a jingal
. He died half an hour later. Admiral Michael Seymour wrote to the Admiralty after the capture of Canton:
He was buried in Hong Kong Cemetery
in Happy Valley
of Hong Kong
.
. Mount Bate
, on Vancouver Island
, British Columbia
, was probably named after him by Captain George Henry Richards
.
Surveying
See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...
and officer in the Royal Navy
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...
.
Early life
Bate was born in 1820, the son of the GovernorGovernor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of Ascension Island
Ascension Island
Ascension Island is an isolated volcanic island in the equatorial waters of the South Atlantic Ocean, around from the coast of Africa and from the coast of South America, which is roughly midway between the horn of South America and Africa...
. He entered the Royal Naval College
Royal Naval Academy
The Royal Naval Academy was established at Portsmouth Dockyard as a facility to train officers for the Royal Navy. The founders' intentions were to provide an alternative means to recruit officers and to provide standardised training, education and admission.-Training:In 1773, a shore side...
, Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
at the age of 13, spending two years studying there. He was then appointed 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...
aboard HMS Isis
HMS Isis (1819)
HMS Isis launched in 1819 was ordered in 1811 as a 50-gun two-decker of the fourth rate Salisbury class, but was redesigned while building, being lengthened on the stocks by 11 feet, and cut down by one deck to produce a spar-deck frigate, that is, to carry extra guns on the spar deck which...
, and sailed with her to the Cape of Good Hope
Cape of Good Hope
The Cape of Good Hope is a rocky headland on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa.There is a misconception that the Cape of Good Hope is the southern tip of Africa, because it was once believed to be the dividing point between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. In fact, the...
. He spent five years at the Cape, transferring to HMS Britannia
HMS Britannia (1820)
HMS Britannia was a 120-gun first-rate ship-of-the-line of the Royal Navy, laid down in 1813 and launched on 20 October 1820.Commissioned in 1823, she saw service in the Mediterranean from 1830-1 and in 1841...
and then, on his passing his lieutenant's exam, to HMS Blenheim
HMS Blenheim (1813)
HMS Blenheim was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 31 May 1813 at Deptford Dockyard.She was placed on harbour service in 1831. In 1854/5 she saw service in the Baltic as a 60-gun steam screw...
. He sailed with the Blenheim to the China Station
China Station
The China Station was a historical formation of the British Royal Navy. It was formally the units and establishments responsible to the Commander-in-Chief, China....
. While serving there, the First Opium War
First Opium War
The First Anglo-Chinese War , known popularly as the First Opium War or simply the Opium War, was fought between the United Kingdom and the Qing Dynasty of China over their conflicting viewpoints on diplomatic relations, trade, and the administration of justice...
broke out. A party of men from Blenheim was landed to attack Chinese positions. Bate was one of those involved, helping to capture a fort, but being wounded in the neck as he did so. For his actions, he was promoted to lieutenant on 11 October 1841.
Surveying career
In autumn 1842 Bate was assigned to Commander Collinson on HMS Bentinck, who had been tasked with surveying the waters around the Chinese coast. In May 1842 he was involved in an attack on ChapooBattle of Chapoo
The Battle of Chapoo was fought between British and Chinese forces in Chapoo, China, on 18 May 1842 during the First Opium War.- References :* . Westminster: Printed by F. Watts.*Rait, Robert S. . . Volume 1....
. Collinson was responsible for surveying the approaches to Chapoo, and once the troops were landed, Bate accompanied them. He was involved in a hand to hand battle with a Chinese defender. Bate captured him, then opened the gates of the fort to the British, at which the Chinese fled. This earned him a Mention in Despatches from Vice Admiral
Vice Admiral
Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...
William Parker who commanded the force. He returned to England in 1846, and took a series of scientific courses at the colleges at Woolwich
Woolwich
Woolwich is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.Woolwich formed part of Kent until 1889 when the County of London was created...
and Portsmouth. He was promoted to Commander in 1848 and given command of HMS Royalist, with which he was to carry out further surveys of the Chinese coast. He was taken ill with smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
in 1852, but recovered and was able to complete his surveys, including one of the island of Palawan
Palawan
Palawan is an island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region or Region 4. Its capital is Puerto Princesa City, and it is the largest province in the country in terms of total area of jurisdiction. The islands of Palawan stretch from Mindoro in the northeast to Borneo in the...
. After completing these tasks, Bate returned to England. In January 1856 he was appointed to command HMS Bittern, and to return to Chinese waters to conduct further surveys. He took command in April that year, but it was soon found that the Bittern was unsuitable to the task. Bate sent her back to Britain, transferring his command to the sixth rate HMS Actaeon
HMS Actaeon (1831)
HMS Actaeon was a 26-gun sixth-rate frigate of the Royal Navy.-Career:Actaeon was designed in 1827 by the School of Naval Architecture, and launched from Portsmouth Dockyard on 31 January 1831...
, while he awaited the arrival of his new ship.
While cruising off the Chinese coast, the Arrow incident occurred, the prelude to the Second Opium War
Second Opium War
The Second Opium War, the Second Anglo-Chinese War, the Second China War, the Arrow War, or the Anglo-French expedition to China, was a war pitting the British Empire and the Second French Empire against the Qing Dynasty of China, lasting from 1856 to 1860...
, and the British decided to bombard the port of Canton
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
. Bate was put in charge of the landing parties, and whilst overseeing operations from HMS Barracouta
HMS Barracouta (1851)
HMS Barracouta was a paddle sloop, of the Royal Navy, built at the Pembroke Dockyard and launched on 31 March 1851.She commenced service in England before joining the East Indies Station in 1854. During the Crimean War she participated in the blockade of Petropavlovski...
, was struck on the hand by some shot, and was slightly wounded. After the subduing of resistance, Bate took over and garrisoned a fort with 300 men. He held the fort under siege for five months, before the Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
ordered him to evacuate. He returned to the Actaeon, then at Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. As a reward for his services, he was promoted to Captain. Bate returned to Canton in November 1857, and delivered Lord Elgin's
James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin
Sir James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin and 12th Earl of Kincardine, KT, GCB, PC , was a British colonial administrator and diplomat...
ultimatum to the Chinese officials. There being no reply, the navy began to bombard the port on 28 December.
Death
The attackers decided to storm the walls of the city, and Bate volunteered to lead a party. He was landed, but as he was determining the height of the wall to be scaled with his sextantSextant
A sextant is an instrument used to measure the angle between any two visible objects. Its primary use is to determine the angle between a celestial object and the horizon which is known as the altitude. Making this measurement is known as sighting the object, shooting the object, or taking a sight...
, he was hit in the right breast by a ball fired from a jingal
Jingal
A jingal , or gingall, is a type of gun, usually a light piece mounted on a swivel; it sometimes takes the form of a heavy musket fired from a rest....
. He died half an hour later. Admiral Michael Seymour wrote to the Admiralty after the capture of Canton:
He was buried in Hong Kong Cemetery
Hong Kong Cemetery
Hong Kong Cemetery, formerly Hong Kong Cemetery and before that Hong Kong Colonial Cemetery, is one of the early Christian cemeteries of Hong Kong during its colonial era . It is located beside the racecourse at Happy Valley, along with the Jewish Cemetery, Hindu Cemetery, Parsee Cemetery, St...
in Happy Valley
Happy Valley, Hong Kong
Happy Valley is a mostly residential suburb of Hong Kong, located in the northern part of Hong Kong Island. Administratively, it is part of Wan Chai District....
of Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
.
Legacy
Bate's strong Christian views led to him becoming lionised as a Christian hero and martyr. His memoirs were published by Reverend John Ballie, and Charles Rogers included his biography in his Christian heroes in the army and navy. A memorial was erected in St Anns Church, PortseaPortsea
Portsea is an area of the English city of Portsmouth, located on Portsea Island, within the ceremonial county of Hampshire.The area was originally known as the Common and lay between the town of Portsmouth and the nearby Dockyard. The Common started to be developed at the end of the seventeenth...
. Mount Bate
Mount Bate
Mount Bate is a mountain on Vancouver Island in Strathcona Regional District, British Columbia, Canada, east of the community of Tahsis and southwest of Rugged Mountain. Mount Bate is thought to have been named by George Henry Richards for Captain William Thornton Bate, RN, a surveyor who was...
, on Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific Northwest coast of North America between 1791 and 1794...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, was probably named after him by Captain George Henry Richards
George Henry Richards
Admiral Sir George Henry Richards was Hydrographer to the British Admiralty from 1864 to 1874.-Early life:Richards was born in Anthony, Cornwall, the son of Captain G S Richards, and joined the navy in 1832....
.