Robert FitzGerald Gambier RN (1803 - 1885)

Born 21 Nov 1803 in Lisboa, Portugal

Ancestors

Husband of Hester (Butler) Gambier — married 18 Jan 1838 in Hambledon, Hampshire, England

Died 17 Oct 1885 at age 81 in 7 The Crescent, Alverstoke, Hampshire, England

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Biography

Robert Gambier RN was born in Portugal to parents of British citizenship.

Robert FitzGerald Gambier, second son of Sir James Gambier FRS and his wife, Jemima Snell, was born at Lisbon in Portugal on the 21st of November 1803. ^[1][2] He was baptised there on the 24th of December.^[3]

Robert joined the Royal Navy as a volunteer in 1818 aboard the 20 gun Myrmidon commanded by his cousin, once removed, Captain Robert Gambier.

On the 18th of January 1838 at Hambledon in Hampshire he married Hester Butler, daughter of Thomas Butler ^[2] and his wife, Hester Lushington.^[1]The marriage was registered at Droxford in Hampshire. ^[4][5]

By 1861, a retired Captain, Robert was living comfortably with Hester at No7 the Crescent in Alverstoke.^[6]

In 1870, having seen a great need, he donated a public water fountain to the town erected down by the waterfront where the ferry boatmen waited for passengers in the hope that they would refresh themselves for free rather than spend their much needed pennies on beer. No longer functional the fountain remains as his memorial. ^[2]

Robert finally retired from the Navy in 1877 devoting himself to the town which had become his home. ^[2] Hester died on the 14th of March 1885 ^[7] always a sad loss but more so since Robert had been totally blind for several years. ^[2] At present it is not known where she was buried.

Robert died at home only months later, on the 17th of October 1885. ^[2] He was buried with his brother, Gloucester, at St Mark. ^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} A Naval Biographical Dictionary: Gambier, Robert Fitzgerald by William Richard O'Byrne
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5} Historic Gosport: Admiral Robert FitzGerald Gambier
3. ↑ Baptism: "Portugal Baptisms, 1570-1910"
   citing Digital film/folder number: 008074866; FHL microfilm: 477648
   FamilySearch Record: F2CM-Z8Q (accessed 5 August 2023)
   Robert Fitz Gerald Gambier baptism on 24 Dec 1803 (born 21 Nov 1803), son of James Gambier & Jemima, in Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
4. ↑ England and Wales marriage index ( Registered Droxford 1838 1st qu Robert FitzGerald Gambier married Hester Butler)
5. ↑ Marriage: "England Marriages, 1538–1973"
   citing Digital film/folder number: 007908492; FHL microfilm: 1041207
   FamilySearch Record: NV2Z-CXZ (accessed 5 August 2023)
   Robert Fitzgerald Gambier marriage to Hester Butler on 18 Jan 1838 in Hambledon, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom.
6. ↑ 1861 Census of England
   7 Anglesey Crescent, Alverstoke, Hampshire, England

   First Name	Last Name	Relationship	Marital Status	Gender	Age	Occupation	Birth Place
   Robert F	Gambiers	Head	Married	Male	67	Retired Captain, Royal Navy	Lisbon, British Citizen
   Hester	Gambiers	Wife	Married	Female	59	-	London, Middlesex
   John	Barnes	Servant	Unmarried	Male	23	Footman	Millbrook, Hampshire
   Amelia	Forder	Servant	Unmarried	Female	24	Housemaid	West Tisted, Hants
   Ann	Hall	Servant	Unmarried	Female	56	Cook	Petworth, Sussex

7. ↑ National Probate Calendar (30 January 1886 Hester Gambier of Anglesey, Alverstoke died there 14 March 1885. Estate valued £9437 6s. Probate granted to Vernon Lushington of Kensington Sq, Thomas Dacres Butler of Castletown Rd, Kensington and Thomas Adair Butler of Anglesey VC, the executors of her husband Robert FitzGerald Gambier)
8. ↑ Burial Index St Mark, Alverstoke. See image