David Robertson-Macdonald

For other persons named David Robertson, see David Robertson.
David Robertson-Macdonald
David Robertson-Macdonald, 1900
Other name(s)David Robertson
Born(1817-08-06)6 August 1817[1]
Died16 May 1910(1910-05-16) (aged 92)
Edinburgh, Scotland[2]
Buried
Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh[1]
Allegiance United Kingdom
Branch Royal Navy[3]
Years of service1831–1867[4]
RankAdmiral
CommandsHMS Hazard, 1844–45
HMS Cygnet, 1848–50
Battles
AwardsChina War Medal
New Zealand War Medal
RNLI Silver Medal
Spouse(s)
Caroline Beck
​
(m. 1848)​
[6]
RelationsWilliam Robertson (grandfather)
David Robertson MacDonald (father)
William Robertson (uncle)
Other workInspecting Commander, HMCG, 1851–58[4]
Assistant Inspector of Lifeboats, RNLI, 1862–79[4]

Admiral David Robertson-Macdonald, 11th of Kinlochmoidart (6 August 1817 – 16 May 1910), also known as David Robertson, was a Scottish officer in the Royal Navy.[3]

He joined the Royal Navy as a volunteer, and saw service off the Portuguese and Spanish coast, in the West Indies and in the Mediterranean. Promoted to Lieutenant in August 1841, he served in HMS Hazard in the 1842 war with China, before the ship was posted to New Zealand.[7]

In August 1844, Lieutenant Robertson assumed the role of Acting Commander of HMS Hazard, following the death of Commander Charles Bell, RN, at Kororāreka, New Zealand. At Kororāreka in the early morning of 11 March 1845, Commander Robertson, with a party of 45 sailors and marines, repulsed the first attack of the Battle of Kororāreka from Kawiti, Pumuka and their party of some 200 warriors, at Christ Church and along Matavia Pass. Missing presumed dead following the naval party's withdrawal to the stockade, he was later found concealed in scrub, alive but dangerously wounded in the legs, and carried off to the safety of the stockade.[5][8] He was later commended for his bravery, and was promoted to Commander.[2]

In 1849 he was appointed to the command of HMS Cygnet stationed on the West Coast of Africa, where he spent a year involved in the suppression of the Atlantic slave trade, capturing a number of slave ships.[9][10] In 1851 he became an Inspecting Commander in Her Majesty's Coastguard, until 1858 when he was promoted to the rank of Captain. From 1862 to 1879 he served as an Assistant Inspector of Lifeboats to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.[7]

Retiring in the rank of Captain, he later received further promotions in retirement, finally becoming an admiral in July 1885.[11] He died in Edinburgh on 16 May 1910 aged 92.[2]

  1. ^ a b "David Robertson-MacDonald". Find a Grave. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "News of the Day". The Colonist. Vol. 52, no. 12844. 14 July 1910. p. 2.
  3. ^ a b Charles Haultain, ed. (1844). The New Navy List. London: Simpkin, Marshall and Co. p. 226.
  4. ^ a b c "Macdonald, David Robertson", ADM 196/37 – Commission and Warrant Branch: Executive Officers M-Z. Dates of entry: 1809–1867, Latest date of discharge: 1908
  5. ^ a b "Narrative of Events at the Bay of Islands". New Zealander. Vol. 1, no. 1. 7 June 1845. p. 2.
  6. ^ Fox-Davies, Arthur Charles (1905). Armorial Families: A Directory of Gentlemen of Coat-armour. pp. 1165–1166.
  7. ^ a b "Admiral David Robertson-Macdonald 11th of Kinlochmoidart". electricscotland.com. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  8. ^ Selwyn, George Augustus (1846), "New Zealand. Part IV: A Letter from the Bishop of New Zealand to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel; Containing an Account of the Affray Between the Settlers and the Natives at Kororareka", Church in the Colonies, no. 12, London: The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel
  9. ^ "Sale of Old Stores at Woolwich". The London Gazette. No. 21164. 20 December 1850. p. 3456.
  10. ^ "London, May 13,1851". The London Gazette. No. 21209. 13 May 1851. p. 1274.
  11. ^ "Admiralty, 11th July, 1885". The London Gazette. No. 25490. 14 July 1885. p. 3240.