We regret to announce the death of Vice-Admiral Edward Westby Vansittart, C.B., which took place at his residence, Briersden, Solden-road, Worthing, yesterday morning, alter a few days' illness.
This distinguished naval officer, who was born at Bisham, in Berkshire, on July 21, 1818, came of a family of considerable antiquity in the Low Countries which derived its name from the township of Sittart, in the Duchy of Limburg. His ancestor, Peter Van Sittart, came into England from Dansig in the reign of Charles II., and among the representatives of the family at the present time are the Vansittarts of Shottesbrook and Foots Cray, in Kent, and the Vansittart-Neales of Bisham Abbey. Vice-Admiral Vansittart was the third son of Henry Vansittart, vice-admiral of the Blue, who died in 1847; he was severely wounded at Toulon and won Nelson's approbation at Calvi. His son, after a course of education at the Royal Naval College, entered the service as a first-class volunteer in 1831, and being rated midshipman served in that capacity on the East Coast of Spain during the Carlist war, 1834-36. He was made a mate, after passing the usual examination, in August, 1837, and going to the East Indies in the Wellesley, the flagship on that station, was present at the reduction of Karachi in February, 1839, and at other operations in the Persian Gulf. His next ship was the Cornwallis, in China, and in her he took part in the operations in the Yang-tsze in 1842, receiving the China medal with two clasps and being mentioned in despatches. Promoted to lieutenant in September of the same year, he was, while serving in the Hibernia, on the coast of Portugal, appointed aide-de-camp to Sir W. Parker and present at the surrender of the Portuguese rebel fleet off Oporto, 1846-47. On January 1, 1848, he was made senior lieutenant of the Victoria and Albert, the Royal yacht, and in October of the following year received his commission as commander. In command of the Bittern on the China Station from 1849 to 1855, he was constantly engaged in the suppression of piracy, and for his services was honourably mentioned in despatches; during the war with Russia his vessel was attached to the squadron blockading De Castries Bay, in the Gulf of Tartary; and in September, 1855, he destroyed a piratical fleet of 40 war junks and the pirate stronghold at Sheipoo, rescuing a party of English ladies who had fallen into the hands of the pirates. For this last-named exploit he received the official thanks of the Chinese authorities and was presented by the British and foreign merchants with an illuminated address and a magnificent screen as a token of their gratitude and esteem. His commission as captain bore date January 9, 1856, and while in command of the Ariadne in 1860 this frigate was selected as an escort to the vessel which conveyed King Edward, then Prince of Wales, to Canada and home again. He afterwards commanded the Achilles, one of the early ironclads, and in 1867 was made a Companion of the Bath. His last active employment was as second-in-command of the Channel Squadron, and on July 20, 1873, he was placed on the Retired List. His steps in flag rank were received after he retired, that of rear-admiral in January, 1874, and that of vice-admiral in February, 1879.