An endearing child, nicknamed "The Ocean Spectre" and "The Admiral" by his father, Sydney Dickens was born at 3 Chester Place[2] and baptized at the church of St. Mary in Marylebone in London on 24 June 1847, his godfathers being William Haldimand of Lausanne, and Henry Porter Smith (1797–1880), an actuary for the Eagle Life Assurance Company.[3] He was educated at Brackenbury's Military School at Wimbledon and at Mr Gibson's boarding school in Boulogne-sur-Mer, with his brothers, Alfred and Henry.[4]
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.[5] Aged 13 he was sent to North Grove House in Southsea, 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".[6] On 11 September 1860, aged 14, Sydney Dickens joined the Royal Navy as a cadet on the training ship Britannia. After his initial training he was posted to HMS Orlando on 6 December 1861.
He was rated midshipman on 7 March 1862.[7] 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.[7][8][9] 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 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.[7] Charles Dickens was proud of Sydney's naval career, but was unhappy that he had fallen heavily into debt, and refused to help him.[10] 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".[6]
Whilst serving in HMS Topaze Sydney Dickens was invalided due to ill health on 22 April 1872.[8] He remained aboard Topaze for the passage home from India to England, and died at sea a few days later.[7][8] He was buried at sea in the Indian Ocean.[11]
^ abcd"Image details—Dickens, Sydney Smith H—Sub Lieutenant—Naval cadets to Admirals" (fee usually required to view full image of original service records). DocumentsOnline. The National Archives. Retrieved 5 February 2009.
^ abc"Image details—Dickens, Sydney Smith Haldiman—Lieutenant—Executive Officers' Services" (fee usually required to view full image of original service records). DocumentsOnline. The National Archives. Retrieved 5 February 2009.
^"Image details—Dickens, Sydney Smith Haldiman—Lieutenant—Commission and Warrant Branch: Executive Officers A-L" (fee usually required to view full image of original service records). DocumentsOnline. The National Archives. Retrieved 5 February 2009.
^fidnet.com 7 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine Family and Friends of Charles Dickens
^'The Family Tree of Charles Dickens' by Mark Charles Dickens Published by the Charles Dickens Museum (2005)
Dickens on Children, Friends and Associates of Charles Dickens
January 06, 2023
sydney, smith, haldimand, dickens, april, 1847, 1872, royal, navy, officer, fifth, seventh, child, english, novelist, charles, dickens, wife, catherine, sydney, dickens, 1860, contents, biography, also, notes, external, linksbiography, editan, endearing, child. Sydney Smith Haldimand Dickens 18 April 1847 2 May 1872 was a Royal Navy officer the fifth son and seventh child of English novelist Charles Dickens and his wife Catherine 1 Sydney Dickens c 1860 Contents 1 Biography 2 See also 3 Notes 4 External linksBiography EditAn endearing child nicknamed The Ocean Spectre and The Admiral by his father Sydney Dickens was born at 3 Chester Place 2 and baptized at the church of St Mary in Marylebone in London on 24 June 1847 his godfathers being William Haldimand of Lausanne and Henry Porter Smith 1797 1880 an actuary for the Eagle Life Assurance Company 3 He was educated at Brackenbury s Military School at Wimbledon and at Mr Gibson s boarding school in Boulogne sur Mer with his brothers Alfred and Henry 4 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 5 Aged 13 he was sent to North Grove House in Southsea 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 6 On 11 September 1860 aged 14 Sydney Dickens joined the Royal Navy as a cadet on the training ship Britannia After his initial training he was posted to HMS Orlando on 6 December 1861 He was rated midshipman on 7 March 1862 7 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 7 8 9 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 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 7 Charles Dickens was proud of Sydney s naval career but was unhappy that he had fallen heavily into debt and refused to help him 10 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 6 Whilst serving in HMS Topaze Sydney Dickens was invalided due to ill health on 22 April 1872 8 He remained aboard Topaze for the passage home from India to England and died at sea a few days later 7 8 He was buried at sea in the Indian Ocean 11 See also EditDickens familyNotes Edit charlesdickenspage com The Children of Charles Dickens charlesdickenspage com Charles Dickens by Una Pope Hennessy Published by Read Boks 2007 p 275 ISBN 1 4067 5783 7 The Letters of Charles Dickens The Pilgrim Edition Volume 2 1840 1841 Published by Oxford University Press 1969 ISBN 0 19 811478 8 p 251 Dickens Henry Fielding The Recollections of Sir Henry Fielding Dickens K C Published by William Heinemann Ltd 1934 p 11 Peter Ackroyd Dickens Published by Sinclair Stevenson 1990 p 604 a b Ackroyd p 878 a b c d Image details Dickens Sydney Smith H Sub Lieutenant Naval cadets to Admirals fee usually required to view full image of original service records DocumentsOnline The National Archives Retrieved 5 February 2009 a b c Image details Dickens Sydney Smith Haldiman Lieutenant Executive Officers Services fee usually required to view full image of original service records DocumentsOnline The National Archives Retrieved 5 February 2009 Image details Dickens Sydney Smith Haldiman Lieutenant Commission and Warrant Branch Executive Officers A L fee usually required to view full image of original service records DocumentsOnline The National Archives Retrieved 5 February 2009 fidnet com Archived 7 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine Family and Friends of Charles Dickens The Family Tree of Charles Dickens by Mark Charles Dickens Published by the Charles Dickens Museum 2005 External links EditThe Children of Charles Dickens Dickens at the Charles Dickens Museum Dickens on Children Friends and Associates of Charles Dickens Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sydney Smith Haldimand Dickens amp oldid 1075970313, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
