This sub-collection consists of certificates and service papers, notebooks, correspondence, photographs and ephemera, broadly covering most of Dobbie’s naval career. There are summaries written to support his claims to promotion and testimonials relating to several acts of lifesaving for which he received Royal Humane Society awards. Dobbie’s command of HMS BUZZARD (1849) on the North America and West Indies station in 1852-1856 is recorded in a letterbook and journal.

Administrative / biographical background
William Hugh Dobbie was born at Great Saling, Essex, the eldest son of Captain Dobbie (see DBB/1-5) and Agatha Shedden Goodrich. He entered the service in 1825 and after completing his education at the Royal Naval College at Portsmouth joined HMS PYRAMUS (1810) for sea training. He passed for lieutenant in 1831 and then served as mate on several different vessels in the West Indies, and then the wooden paddle frigate HMS MAGICIENNE (1831) on the Lisbon station. During the period 1828-1837 Dobbie was presented with three certificates and two silver medallions by the Royal Humane Society in recognition of the courage and humanity he displayed in several acts of life saving. He received his first commission in 1837 and later had appointments as lieutenant on HMS BELLEISLE (1819) and then HMS GANGES (1821) in the Mediterranean, during which he was engaged in operations on the coast of Syria and received the St. Jean d’Acre Medal. After further training on HMS EXCELLENT ex BOYNE (1810) at Portsmouth Dobbie was first gunnery lieutenant on the sloop HMS ROSE (1821). He was promoted to the rank of commander in 1846 and after gaining his certificate in steam in 1851 was appointed to command the wooden paddle sloop HMS BUZZARD (1849) on the North America and West Indies station. This commission in 1852-1856 included anti-slavery duties in the neighbourhood of Havana. Dobbie was promoted to the rank of captain in 1857 and was then given command of the receiving ship HMS VICTORIOUS (1808) at Portsmouth. He was full admiral on the retired list when he died at Exmouth in 1889. Records of his service can be found at The National Archives under the references ADM 196/1/514 and ADM 196/36/843.