Sydney Smith Haldimand Dickens (18 April 1847 – 2 May 1872) was a

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...

officer, the fifth son and seventh child of English

novelist A novelist is an author or writer of novels, though often novelists also write in other genres of both fiction and non-fiction. Some novelists are professional novelists, thus make a living wage, living writing novels and other fiction, while other ...

Charles Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English novelist, journalist, short story writer and Social criticism, social critic. He created some of literature's best-known fictional characters, and is regarded by ...

and his wife

Catherine Katherine (), also spelled Catherine and Catherina, other variations, is a feminine given name. The name and its variants are popular in countries where large Christian populations exist, because of its associations with one of the earliest Ch ...

Biography

An endearing child, nicknamed by his father "The Ocean Spectre" and "The Admiral,” Sydney Dickens was born at 3 Chester Place and baptized at the church of St. Mary in

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London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

on 24 June 1847, his godfathers being William Haldimand of

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, and Henry Porter Smith (1797–1880), an

actuary An actuary is a professional with advanced mathematical skills who deals with the measurement and management of risk and uncertainty. These risks can affect both sides of the balance sheet and require investment management, asset management, ...

for the Eagle Life Assurance Company. He was educated at Brackenbury's Military School at

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and at Mr Gibson's boarding school in

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, with his brothers,

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and

Henry Henry may refer to: People and fictional characters * Henry (given name), including lists of people and fictional characters * Henry (surname) * Henry, a stage name of François-Louis Henry (1786–1855), French baritone Arts and entertainmen ...

. When Sydney was aged 3, and staying with the family at Broadstairs, his father asked him if he would walk to the railway station to meet John Forster, who was coming for a visit. Without hesitation Sydney answered "Yes" and set off through the garden gate and down the street until another of the children ran after him and fetched him back. Aged 13 he was sent to North Grove House in

Southsea Southsea is a seaside resort and a geographic area of Portsmouth, Portsea Island in the ceremonial county of Hampshire, England. Southsea is located 1.8 miles (2.8 km) to the south of Portsmouth's inner city-centre. Southsea began as a f ...

, intending to train as a naval officer, a move designed by his father to encourage him to become self-sufficient in life. As a boy he had shown great energy and character, and was described by his father as a "born little sailor".Ackroyd, p. 878 On 11 September 1860, aged 14, Sydney Dickens joined the

as a cadet on the training ship . After his initial training he was posted to on 6 December 1861. He was rated

midshipman A midshipman is an officer of the lowest Military rank#Subordinate/student officer, rank in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Royal Cana ...

on 7 March 1862. On 19 May 1864 his career suffered a setback when he was docked a year's seniority "for misconduct"; however, following a period of satisfactory conduct, 8 months of that time was restored to him on 9 November 1866. On 30 August 1867 he was promoted to acting sub-lieutenant, and confirmed in the rank from 30 November 1867. He was promoted acting

lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a Junior officer, junior commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations, as well as fire services, emergency medical services, Security agency, security services ...

on 20 April 1868, reverted to sub lieutenant on 27 August 1868, had a further period as an acting lieutenant from 19 July 1869 to 28 February 1870. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant on 6 February 1872. Charles Dickens was proud of Sydney's naval career, but was unhappy that he had fallen heavily into debt, and refused to help him. Indeed, at one stage Sydney became so reckless with money that his father refused to allow him into the house, and in later years his sister, Mamie Dickens, said she thought of him with "contempt" and even "horror". Whilst serving in Sydney Dickens was invalided by ill health on 22 April 1872. He returned aboard ''Peninsula & Oriental Line Steamer Malta'' for the passage home from

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, and died at sea on 2 May 1872. He was buried at sea in the

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.'The Family Tree of Charles Dickens' by Mark Charles Dickens Published by the

Charles Dickens Museum The Charles Dickens Museum is an author's house museum at 48 Doughty Street in King's Cross, London, King's Cross, in the London Borough of Camden. It occupies a typical Georgian architecture, Georgian terraced house which was Charles Dickens, ...

(2005)

Notes

External links

The Children of Charles DickensDickens
at the

Dickens on Children, Friends and Associates of Charles Dickens
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dickens, Sydney Smith Haldimand 1847 births 1872 deaths Charles Dickens Royal Navy officers People who died at sea Burials at sea Military personnel from the London Borough of Camden People from St Pancras, London Dickens family

Biography

See also

Notes

External links