Samuel Sparshott
Samuel Sparshott | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1783 Portsea, Hampshire, England |
| Died | 10 November 1851 St John's Wood, Middlesex |
| Buried | Highgate Cemetery, London 51°34′0.9″N 0°8′57.7″W / 51.566917°N 0.149361°W |
| Service | Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1803–1849 or 1850 |
| Rank | Commander |
| Commands | HMS Nimrod |
| Battles / wars | Napoleonic Wars |
| Memorials | Memorial tablet in St Ann's Church, HMNB Portsmouth |
| Relations | Edward Sparshott |
| Signature | |
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Commander Samuel Sparshott (1783 – 10 November 1851) was an English officer of the Royal Navy, serving in the Napoleonic Wars. As signal-mate on HMS Caledonia, he was called to testify at the court-martial of James, Lord Gambier. As commander, his last ship was HMS Nimrod, which was driven by a gale onto rocks in Holyhead Bay. Although he and his crew refloated the ship and brought her to dry dock for repair, she was too damaged for naval use, and was sold. His final office was Deputy Inspector-General of the Coast Guard, a position that he held for over twenty years. After he died, it was suggested that he might be called, "Father of the Coast Guard".
Sparshott was descended from Hampshire farmers, and was the seventh of eleven siblings. His brother was Admiral Edward Sparshott, R.N., K.H., K.R.E.