Sir Roger Curtis
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| Admiral Roger Curtis |
Admiral Curtis had an extensive career as an officer in the British Navy, fighting in the American War of Independence and against the French. He was commended for his bravery under fire at the Siege of Gibraltar (1779-1783) when the Spanish and French armies tried to capture the rock.
Curtis was able to rescue hundreds of burnt and drowning, defeated Spanish sailors from the water and became a popular figure in England. He was later awarded the Baronetcy for his role in a large battle against the French called the “Glorious First of June”.
He became an Admiral, as did his son, Sir Lucius Curtis, who fought in the Napoleonic Wars. The Gatcombe referred to in the knighthood was a large house and estate in Southsea, next to Portsmouth, which the family owned.
Sir Roger’s father, Sir Arthur Curtis disappeared in strange circumstances on an expedition to the goldfields in the Klondike in 1898. He was left in camp to do the cooking and took offence at remarks made about his porridge. Not getting what he considered a good enough apology, he lit his pipe and walked out of the camp, never to be seen again. Search parties were sent out and Indian trackers were used but the camp had been in the middle of nowhere and he was never found.
Sir Roger himself became Inspector of Schools for Derbyshire in 1937 and retired in 1947. He lived in Pool Cottage, Melbourne and was a Lay Reader (a person licensed to preach and conduct some religious services) at Melbourne Church. He never married and on his death in 1954 the title became extinct.
