Home > Charles Robert Malden

Malden was born in Putney, Surrey, son of Jonas Malden, a surgeon. He entered British naval service at the age of 11 on 22 June 1809. He served nine years as a volunteer 1st class, midshipmanFor the fishes called midshipman, see Midshipman fish In the navies of English-speaking countries, a midshipman is a low-ranking commissioned officer, usually the lowest rank. In the Royal Navy, the rank of midshipman is one of the oldest ranks. It is the, and mateDisambiguate: Mate or yerba mate is a South American herb, as well as the popular caffeinated beverage prepared therefrom. Mahte is a term from Latvian mythology. Mating; see also Spouse "Mate" on a merchant vessel is the next ranking officer below the ma, including one year in the English ChannelThe English Channel is the part of the Atlantic Ocean that separates the island of Great Britain from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. In French it is called La Manche ("the sleeve"). It is about 350 miles long and at its widest i and Bay of BiscayNot to be confused with the North American Biscayne Bay. The Bay of Biscay (French: Golfe de Gascogne Spanish: Mar Cantabrico is an arm of the North Atlantic Ocean. It lies along the western coast of France from Brest south to the Spanish border, and the (1809), four years at the Cape of Good HopeThe Cape of Good Hope is a headland in South Africa, near Cape Town, traditionally — and incorrectly — regarded as marking the turning point between the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean. Technically, the division between the two oceans lies farther eas and in the East Indies (1809-14), two and a half years on the North American and West Indian stations (1814-16), and a year and a half in the Mediterranean (1817-18). He was present at the capture of MauritiusRepublic of Mauritius Republique de Maurice ( In Detail) National motto: Stella Clavisque Maris Indici( Latin: "Star and Key of the Indian Ocean" Official languages De facto: English, French and Creole Capital Port Louis President Sir Anerood Jugnauth Pri and Java, and at the battles of Baltimore and New Orleans.

He passed the examination in the elements of mathematics and the theory of navigation at the Royal Naval College on 2-4 September 1816, and became a 1st Lieutenant on 1 September 1818. In eight years of active service as an officer, he served two and a half years in a surveying ship in the Mediterranean (1818-21), one and a half years in a surveying sloop in the English Channel and off the coast of Ireland (1823-24), and one and a half years as Surveyor of the frigate Blonde during a voyage (1824-26) to and from the Sandwich Islands ( Hawaii). In Hawaii he discovered and surveyed harbours which, he noted, were "said not to exist by Captains Cook and Vancouver." On the return voyage he discovered and explored uninhabited Malden Island in the central Pacific on 30 July 1825. After his return he left active service but remained at half pay. He served for several years as hydrographer to King William IV.

Malden married Frances Cole, daughter of Rev. William Hodgson Cole, rector of West Clandon and Vicar of Wonensh , near Guildford, Surrey, on 8 April 1828. He became the father of seven sons and a daughter.

From 1830-36 he took pupils for the Royal Navy at Ryde, Isle of Wight. He purchased the school of Henry Worsley at Newport, Isle of Wight, in December 1836, reopened it as a preparatory school on 20 February 1837, and removed it to Montpelier Road in Brighton in December 1837. He built the Windlesham House School at Brighton in 1844, and conducted the school until his death there in 1855.