Robert Fanshawe (Royal Navy officer)

Robert Fanshawe was born on the 4 January 1740 and died on the 4 February 1823. He was the second son of Rear Admiral Charles Fanshawe^[1] and Elizabeth Rogers daughter of Sir John Rogers 2nd Bt.

Naval career

Robert joined Royal Navy in 1753 he was promoted to the Rank of lieutenant in 1759, Master and Commander in 1762, then Captain in 1768.

He served on the following ships:^[2] (list incomplete)
HMS Carcass from the 23 August 1762 till 1763 As Commanding Officer
HMS Speedwell from June 1763 till September 1766 As Commanding Officer
HMS Lively from April 1769 till 1771 As Commanding Officer
HMS Carysfort from December 1775 till November 1778 As Commanding Officer
HMS Monmouth from 1779 till December 1779 As Commanding Officer
HMS Bombay Castle from 1785 till 1788 As Commanding Officer

Parliamentary career

From 1784 to January 1790 Robert sat as Member of Parliament for Plymouth^[3] as a supporter of William Pitt, the Younger. His only known votes were with Pitt on the Regency and stood down to become Commissioner of Plymouth dockyard. As Commissioner of Plymouth dockyard he was responsible for the management of the whole dock and the building of ships for the Royal Navy. He served as Commissioner from 1790 till 1815.

Family

On the 5 December 1769 he married Christiana Gennys,^[4] daughter of John Gennys of Whitleigh Hall, Saint Budeaux, Devon. They had 12 children together. Robert was the father of Sir Arthur Fanshawe and grandfather of Sir Edward Gennys Fanshawe. He died on the 4 February 1823 and was buried at St George's Church, Devon.

References