Charles Elliot (1818–1895)
Admiral of the Fleet Sir Charles Gilbert John Brydone Elliot KCB (12 December 1818 – 21 May 1895) was a Royal Navy officer. As a junior officer he was involved in the bombardment of Acre during the Egyptian–Ottoman War.
Sir Charles Elliot | |
|---|---|
| Born | 12 December 1818 |
| Died | 21 May 1895 (aged 76) Bitterne, Southampton |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ | Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1832–1888 |
| Rank | Admiral of the Fleet |
| Commands held | HMS Hazard HMS Spartan HMS Sybille HMS Cressy HMS St Jean d'Acre South East Coast of America Station Nore Command Plymouth Command |
| Battles/wars | Egyptian–Ottoman War Second Opium War |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath |
| Spouse(s) | Louisa Blackett |
| Relations | Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 2nd Earl of Minto (father) |
During the Second Opium War Eliott led a unit of 300 sailors and marines that successfully breached the walls of Canton and then led another unit that destroyed 23 Chinese war-junks in the estuary South of the city. After that, he led a small squadron of British ships which pursued a fleet of 41 Chinese war-junks at the Battle of Escape Creek: his squadron chased the war-junks upriver and then, once the British ships were grounded as the river narrowed, they chased them in the ships' boats until all the war-junks had been overhauled. He also took part in the larger action, under Commodore Henry Keppel, involving around 100 war-junks at the Battle of Fatshan Creek.
Elliot went on to be Commander-in-Chief, South East Coast of America Station, then Commander-in-Chief, The Nore and finally Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth.