Royal Navy obituary in the Times newspaper
Royal Navy obituary in the Times newspaper


Royal NavyObituaries

The following obituary for Baldwin Wake Walker appeared in the Times newspaper.

Obituary in the Times newspaper
DateObituary
15 February 1876Sir Baldwin Wake Walker, K.C.B., died early on Saturday morning, aged 73 years. The late Admiral entered the Navy in 1812, and obtained his Lieutenancy in April, 1820, and served in the Nautilus, Capt. J. Fleming Chapman, on the Jamaica station. He was afterwards employed in the Brazen, 26, Capt. G.W. Willes, in South America. He subsequently served in the Rattlesnake and the Ætna, bomb, both in the Mediterranean, the latter commanded by Capt. Lushington. While serving in the latter he distinguished himself by the valuable assistance he afforded his captain at the taking, in Octobar, 1828, of Morea Castle and Patras. For his services on that occasion, which were mentioned in the Gazette, he was made a Knight of the Legion of Honour of France and of the Redeemer of Greece. He continued employed on the Mediterranean station until the Spring of 1834, and in July that year he was promoted to Commander. He served afterwards, from September, 1836, to November, 1838, on board the Vanguard, 80. For some time Walker was a Rear and Vice-Admiral, Yaver Pasha, in the Turkish service, and commanded the Ottoman Naval Forces during the operations on the coast of Syria, including the attack upon Beyrout (where his zealous, persevering, and active exertions were warmly praised by Admiral Sir Robert Stopford) and at the bombardment of St. Jean d’Acre. He was nominated an Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of tho Bath in January, 1841, and was made also a Knight of the Iron Crown of Austria, 2d class; St. Anne of Russia, 2d class; and of the Red Eagle of Prussia. He afterwards served in the Queen, 110, bearing the flag of Sir John West, at Devonport, and in the Constance, 50, in the Pacific. In 1848 he was appointed Surveyor of the Navy; and for some time, until he obtained his flag, was one of the Naval Aides-de-Camp to the Queen. He resigned his office as Surveyor of the Navy in January, 1861, and was appointed the following month Commander-in-Chief at the Cape of Good Hope. Since then he had not been employed, as he was placed on the retired list of Admirals in 1870. His commission as Captain is dated November 24, 1838; Rear Admiral, January, 1858; Vice-Admiral, February 10, 1865; and Admiral, February 27, 1870. For his services during tho Russian War he was in 1856 created a baronet. Ths late Sir Baldwin was the eldest son of the late Mr. John Walker, by Frances, niece of Sir William Wake, eighth baronet. He married, in 1834, Mary Catherine Sinclair, only daughter of Capt. John Worth, R.N. His eldest son, Baldwin Wake, is a Lieutenant in the Navy, and his second son, Charles Sinclair, was lost in Her Majesty’s ship Captain, together with his brother-in-law, Capt. J.T. Burgoyne, in 1870.


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