Family and Education

b. 5 Feb. 1768, 3rd s. of James Stopford*, 2nd Earl of Courtown [I]; bro. of James George, Visct. Stopford* and Hon. Edward Stopford*. educ. Eton 1779. m. 29 June 1809, Mary, da. of Robert Fanshawe^† commr. of the navy at Portsmouth, 3s. 5da. KCB 2 Jan. 1815; GCB 6 June 1831; GCMG 10 May 1837.

Offices Held

Entered RN 1780, lt. 1785, cdr. 1789, capt. 1790; col. marines 1805-8; r.-adm. 1808, v.-adm. 1812, adm. 1825; c.-in-c. Cape 1810-12, Portsmouth 1827-30, Mediterranean 1837-41; r.-adm. [UK] 1834, v.-adm. [UK] 1847.

Gov. Greenwich Hosp. May 1841-d.

Biography

Stopford’s election for Ipswich was a minor event in a long and successful naval career. He had been mentioned as a possible court candidate for Windsor on a vacancy in 1794. The predilection of Ipswich voters for naval men with ministerial support ensured his return. He was not present at the election and shortly afterwards sailed for the Rio de la Plata where he remained for the duration of the Parliament. At the dissolution in 1807 the change of ministry and his continued absence militated against his re-election. Like his successor in the seat he was then in hot water for ‘entire want of subordination’. He never re-entered Parliament. On 10 Jan. 1812 he received the House’s thanks for his services in Java; his acknowledgment of them, dated from the Cape, 28 Aug., was reported by the Speaker on 1 Dec. He died 25 June 1847.

DNB; The Times, 25 Jan. 1794; Ipswich Jnl. 25 Oct., 1 Nov. 1806, 2 May 1807; Geo. III Corresp. iv. 3375.

Ref Volumes: 1790-1820

Author: Winifred Stokes

Notes