A son of Laurence Redmill or Redmile, and his wife, Mary, Robert was baptised at All Saints, Stamford in Lincolnshire on the 9th of December 1758. [1] He joined the Royal Navy and, on the 24th of December 1783 was promoted lieutenant. [2]
Robert married Susanna Douglas at St Martin in the Fields on the 5th of May 1791. [3]
He, by this time ranked Commander, was commanding officer of the 8 gun fireship HMS Comet at the Battle of Hyeres in 1795 though his ship was not engaged [2] and he took command of the 14 gun HMS Tarleton in July 1796, probably quite happy to hand her over to Lt William Proby in September, since she was rotten. Admiral Jervis observed that she was unsafe on even the shortest voyages between Mediterranean Ports. [4]
His only child, his son, Andrew Snape Redmill died in 1796 aged 4 and was buried at St Giles, Camberwell on the 12th of November. [5]
In 1798, promoted Captain, he was given command of HMS Delft of 64 guns. [2]
Robert was posted to the 2 deck HMS Polyphemus of 64 guns on the 16th of June 1805. [6] She joined the blockade of the Franco/Spanish fleet at Cadiz and sailed into battle on the 24th of October to the rear of Admiral Collingwood's line where her slow speed would not inhibit other vessels. Arriving late at the Battle of Trafalgar she took very few casualties but showed her worth in the storm that followed the battle by towing Victory to Gibraltar. [7] Ill health cut Robert's career short the following year. [7]
Robert died on the 19th of February 1819. [2]
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R > Redmill > Robert Redmill CB RN
Categories: Battle of Trafalgar | HMS Polyphemus (1782) | Stevenage, Hertfordshire | Stamford, Lincolnshire | St Martin in the Fields Church, Westminster, London | HMS Comet (1783) | HMS Tarleton (1782) | HMS Delft (1797) | Notables