Admiral Charles Ramsay Drinkwater Bethune CB (27 December 1802 – 14 February 1884) was a British officer of the Royal Navy. He rose to the rank of Admiral during his career.
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Early life
Born 27 Decemnber 1802 at Little Ealing, Middlesex, the son of Colonel John Drinkwater and Eleanor Congalton, he assumed the name of Bethune in 1837, when his mother inherited the estates of her brother, George Congalton-Bethune.
Naval career
Bethune served with the Royal Navy from the age of 13, joining his first ship HMS Northumberland in 1815. Serving under Captain Charles Ross he escorted Napoleon to exile on Saint Helena. He then served on HMS Leander, HMS Superb and HMS Creole. On 24 March 1822 he passed his exam for Lieutenant and then served in that rank on HMS Doris. He then served on several ships and on 22 July 1830, he was promoted Captain. He commanded HMS Conway in Australasia and the Far East from 1836 to 1842. He reported the Conway Reef in 1838.
He served in the First Opium War operating on the Chinese coast. In June 1840 he commanded a serious of transports to the Chinese coast. On 5 July 1840 he commanded a shore party which was involved in the Capture of Chusan. His ship was then engaged in the blockade of Ningpo before being assigned to survey work. He was appointed a Companion of the Bath in 1841 for his services.