Arthur Shakespeare

Shown as owner of Kendall in Hanover in 1811. Likely the son of David Shakespear, brother of John Mure Shakespear (q.v., under Rev. John Shakspear or Shakespeare), dying in Sussex in 1847. Otherwise the brother of David Shakespear the earlier owner, and if so the London ropemaker and MP (1748-1818).

1. John Mure (born 08/12/1786) and Arthur (born 18/05/1788), sons of David Shakespeare and his wife Catharine (nee Wagstaffe), baptised in St Elizabeth, Jamaica, 14/04/1789.

2. Arthur Shakespear, son of David, entered the Royal Navy in 1804. On the Jamaica station 1808-1810. Lieutenant from 1810. Served at Trafalgar. "He had received two sabre-cuts in the head, when in the Thetis, in boarding a French privateer; and in the Avon he had again been severely wounded, in the left arm, in a long and destructive action fought (the Rainbow 22 in company) with the French 40-gun frigate La Neriede 14 Fe. 1810." He next saw service in March 1812. This interval (probably a period of convalescence) coincides with Arthur Shakespear being named in the giving-in for Kendall, Hanover. This is reflected in the Almanacs as well, where Kendall is listed against David Shakespear in 1811 (based on the 1809 givings-in), Arthur Shakespear in 1812 (based on 1811) and David Shakespear in 1816.

3. Left the Navy in 1815. Lloyds Lists show one Shakespear as master of the vessel Kaims or Kains from 1817/18 onward, voyaging on the London to WI (Grenada and Jamaica) run. Kaims was one of the Scottish estates of the Jamaican Campbell family (whose members also skippered the family’s ships) related to the Shakespears. In 1818 Master Shakespear Hamilton, son of Rev W. V. Hamilton (and nephew of Arthur S) was reported as sailing from Black River on the Kains.

4. Arthur Shakespear esq, RN, married Louisa, second daughter of the late Joseph Sage of the Royal Mint, at Bexley, 17/07/1821. He died 05/03/1847.

For more on Arthur Shakespear the brother of David Shakespear see http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1790-1820/member/shakespeare-arthur-1748-1818 [accessed 01/01/2017].

1. Familysearch.org, Jamaica Church of England Parish Register Transcripts, 1664-1880 [database online].

2. William Richard O'Byrne, A Naval Biographical Dictionary (1849) pp. 1055-1056; email from Paul Hitchings 26/07/2020 sourced to Trafalgar Roll (TNA); Jamaiaca Almanacs (1811, 1812, 1816).

3. O'Byrne, A Naval Biographical Dictionary pp. 1055-1056; email from Paul Hitchings 26/07/2020 sourced to Lloyd's Lists; Royal Gazette of Jamaica, 13/06/1818.

4. Baldwin’s London Weekly Journal, 20/07/1821; Will of Arthur Shakespear Lieutenant of the Royal Navy of Ore Sussex proved 10/06/1847, PROB 11/2058/207. Administration of will of Arthur Shakespear formerly of Ore but late of Fairlight Down Cottage near Hastings who died 05/03/1847 granted 23/05/1861, effects under £3000.

We are grateful to Paul Hitchings for his assistance with compiling this entry.