Francis Rawdon Chesney – An Extraordinary Life
Introduction
The name Francis Rawdon Chesney is not very well known today, but he was a local man dubbed ‘the father of the Suez Canal’. His journeys and exploration of the Middle East in the 19th century led to the development of faster and safer routes for travellers and international trade. An academic as well as a soldier and explorer, his story is worth investigating.
Family Background
Francis was born on 16th March 1789 at Barracks House, on Sabbath Hill Road in Ballyveagh, near Annalong. He was the eldest son of Captain Alexander Chesney and his second wife Jane, nee Wilson.
Chesney’s Father – Alexander Chesney
Emigration and Return
Alexander Chesney came from Dunclug, near Ballymena in County Antrim. His family were of Scottish descent. In 1772 Alexander emigrated to America. He had a thriving farm in South Carolina near the River Packolet.
During the American War of Independence (1775-1783) Chesney fought on the side of the British. He was taken prisoner three times and only narrowly escaped with his life.
With the approaching victory of the American colonists, he left the USA and returned to his homeland. However, the Chesney family were now in much reduced financial circumstances.
“At the expiration of the war, having lost his wife, and his property having been confiscated, Captain Chesney returned to Ireland almost penniless, with an impaired constitution….”
Dublin University Magazine November 1841
In 1782 Alexander rode the 160 miles from Cork to Dublin to ask the British Viceroy to compensate him for his losses. Chesney argued that his loyalty to the crown had cost him his farm and his livelihood. The requested compensation was refused.
“He got a cool reception and no money. He had to sell what few possessions he had and walked from Dublin to Ballymena”
S Alex Blair, County Antrim Characters, 1993
Employment with Customs and Excise
Chesney then appealed for aid from his old army commander Francis Rawdon-Hastings, earl of Moira. This gentleman used his influence to get Alexander a post with Customs and Excise. Chesney worked in Waterford, Belfast and Bangor and was promoted to Chief Coast Officer for Mourne in County Down.
In gratitude Alexander and Jane named their first son Francis Rawdon in honour of his godfather and their benefactor.
“The Mourne area at that time was notorious for smuggling and Alexander Chesney was engaged in preventing the contraband being landed along the coast. He was not a popular man as many of the local people were engaged in assisting the smugglers and Chesney was a threat to their livelihood”
Tom Porter 12 Miles of Mourne Vol 1, 1987
In January 1793, Alexander survived an assassination attempt but a young officer named Alexander McDowell was fatally wounded. Chesney had his 4-year- old son Francis kiss the lips of the corpse as a lesson on the dangers of guns.
Family Life
After this the Chesney’s moved to Prospect House near Annalong. Along with Francis, Alexander and Jane’s children were Jane, Charles, Alexander, John, Robert, Thomas, Marianne, Matilda and Charlotte.
Subsequently, Alexander Chesney purchased the deed for a farm in Ballyvardy near Kilkeel. Here he built a fine residence for his family named Packolet House in memory of his American homestead.
He insisted his sons be well educated, and the boys walked over two miles every day to Glassdrumman where they were taught by a Mr Gibbons who also visited the Chesney home at the weekends for extra tuition. The harsh nature of the boy’s education is illustrated by the fact that Alexander forced them to learn by heart a column of the dictionary every day. If it did not meet his rigorous standards the boys received a beating.
Francis Rawdon Chesney
Determination and Bravery
At the age of 9, Francis was enlisted by his father as sub-lieutenant in the Mourne Infantry. This was a yeomanry corps raised by Alexander to fight against the United Irishmen in the 1798 Rebellion.
It is said his mother Jane however, disagreed with this and hid Francis’s shoes in an attempt to prevent her son leaving. The young Francis was forced to walk, without shoes, the 20 miles from Kilkeel to Newry to join his unit. Fortunately, he was not involved in any serious military engagements.
When he was 14, earl Moira presented Chesney with a cadetship at the Royal Artillery academy. In April 1803 the teenager left Ireland for Woolwich in the Royal Borough of Greenwich in England. There was some doubt about his admittance as Francis did not meet the minimum height for cadets which was 4ft 9”. However, by lining his shoes with sheets of cork he just made the requisite height. He was commissioned into the Royal Artillery 2 years later.
While on a visit home in January 1814, Francis was responsible for the rescue of the crew of a French ship, the Leda, that had run aground. For this he was awarded the medal of the ‘Societe des Naufrages‘ (shipwrecks) and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Humane Society.
“….he by his intrepidity and powers as a swimmer, rescued the crew of a French barque that had gone ashore in a blinding storm”
Alfred Webb, Compendium of Irish Biography, 1878
Chesney’s Travels & Writings
Francis Rawdon Chesney served in Portsmouth and Guernsey before embarking on a 3-year expedition to Turkey, Egypt, Syria, Arabia and India.
As he travelled Chesney made extensive, detailed notes on the history and geography around him. This also included surveying the Red Sea, the River Tigris, the Karun delta and the River Euphrates with new trading routes to India ‘in mind’.
Chesney subsequently wrote and published a number of books, including the 2-volume work ‘Expedition’ for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris (1850). Some of his other works are
- On the Reorganization of the Royal Regiment of Artillery (1851),
- The Russo-Turkish Campaigns of 1828 and 1829 (1854)
- Narrative of the Euphrates Expedition (1868].
In recognition of his academic prowess, Chesney was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Civil Law from Oxford University. He was also, elected a fellow of the Royal Society and the Royal Geographical Society awarded him a gold medal.
Military Strategy
As well as geography and exploration, Francis was very interested in military strategy. He spent a lifetime examining the subject and, after the Peninsular War, he walked over 3,000 miles surveying the Napoleonic battlefields.
“He early acquired the habit of devoting several hours daily to the study of military science; a practice from which no inducements could draw him away”
Alfred Webb, Compendium of Irish Biography, 1878
Exploration
While in Asia, Francis Rawdon explored the lower Euphrates by raft. He became certain the river was navigable by steamship. This would considerably shorten the journey to India. It would also establish a British presence in western Asia and discourage encroachment from Russia. Britain, France and Russia all eagerly coveted these important trading routes.
Chesney returned to England in September 1832 with a plan in mind. In April 1833 Chesney managed to secure an interview with the English King William IV and present his project. The king became a firm supporter.
Francis Rawdon was also well known for his diplomacy and tact, referred to in the London Times in February 1835 “…and the abilities he displayed in his intercourse with the jealous natives of the eastern lands” and
“He has inspired the Arabs with such a friendly disposition and admiration of his powers, that they showed him the greatest regard and favour, and looked on him as a magician whom nothing could resist”
London Times 12th July 1836.
A select committee for the Euphrates scheme was appointed. In June 1834 parliament voted to fund the project to the tune of £20,000.
Chesney was to lead the expedition with the temporary rank of colonel. His second-in-command was Henry Blosse Lynch who was in charge of the second vessel. There was also 14 officers and 39 crewmen. The relationship between Chesney and Lynch (1807-1873), from County Mayo, was described as ‘tense’.
The two iron-hulled steamships, built in the Liverpool shipyard of Mr John Laird, the Euphrates and the slightly smaller the Tigris, set sail for Syria on 10th February 1835.
No-one expected this to be an easy mission, but it proved more arduous than thought. When travelling overland, the boats had to be taken apart and the sections hauled over 137 miles of desert and rough terrain. Both native tribes and the environment proved to be hostile and dangerous. Many of the crew, including Chesney, suffered from malaria.
Worse was to come. On 21st May 1836 a sudden storm wrecked the Tigris with the loss of 22 lives. It had been a pleasant day when suddenly the tornado struck. The Tigris sank in less than 8 minutes.
The authorities in London decided to ‘throw in the towel’ and ordered Chesney and the remaining men back to England. However, having come so far Francis Rawdon Chesney could not envision giving up now.
“Colonel Chesney was naturally distressed by this great tragedy. Nevertheless, he did not intend that the incident should affect the outcome of his exploration”.
C. Costello, Irish Geography 7, 1974
Chesney ignored the instructions and sailed on, a decision with which his crew agreed. However, the English government took a dim view of his actions.
On 19th June 1836 Chesney achieved his ambition when he reached Basra on the Persian Gulf, a journey of around 1,200 miles.
“In 1835 he set out on an expedition on which, at a terrible cost in lives, he proved that the Euphrates was navigable for steamships throughout its entire course. Out of all this came the famous overland route to India, starting on the Coast of Syria, using the Euphrates to arrive at the head of the Persian Gulf, and ending up in Karachi”
S. Alex Blair, County Antrim Characters, 1993
Recognition
In Bombay Francis was feted and treated like a hero. The Bombay Chamber of Commerce offered him a ceremonial sword as a symbol of his courageous venture.
At first Chesney demurred, saying he would rather the authorities of British India erect a head stone or memorial to his drowned comrades. In the event, both sword and monument were commissioned.
Family
On 11th May 1822 Francis married Georgette Forster. The couple had a baby girl called Jane and a little boy who died in infancy. Sadly, his wife Georgette died in 1825.
He married his second wife Everilda Fraser on 30th April 1839 in Brighton but she passed away the following year.
The third Mrs Chesney was Louisa Fletcher. The pair married on 30th March 1848 in London. They had a family of five – four sons (Francis Edward, Edward Shuldham, Rawdon Charles and Alexander George). Their only daughter was named Everilda. Rawdon Charles died in 1865 aged only 12.
The Suez Canal
In 1858, the French diplomat Ferdinand de Lesseps established the Suez Company – ‘Compagnie de Suez’.
The aim was to build a canal from Port Said in the north of Egypt to Suez in the south. This would allow ships direct access from the North Atlantic to the Indian Ocean by way of the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea.
The new route would avoid the South Atlantic and South Africa’s notorious Cape of Good Hope and reduce the journey by 5,500 miles. Obviously, a major advantage for trade between Europe and Asia.
Attempts at such a canal had been projected over the centuries from the time of the pharaohs, the Romans, the Venetians and the Ottomans. In the 18th century Napolean hired architects, engineers and cartographers to explore the possibility of a north-south waterway. However, in 1804 the report of these experts concluded that due to different water levels, a series of locks would need to be constructed, which would be costly and not necessarily successful. The French emperor abandoned the plan.
However, in 1830 Chesney submitted a report to the English government with a different conclusion. He found there was no significant differences in water level between the Mediterranean and Red Seas. The British had already established a trading route to the east and the impetus to consider a new canal was lacking.
“Several important factors led to Britain’s early opposition to the Suez Canal. Longstanding British fears about the loss of the India trade contributed to the Empire’s predisposition against the construction of the canal. This general motivation compounded with specific strategic concerns and deep political prejudice to sustain impolitic foreign policy toward the canal well into its construction”
George Edward Bogden, Britain’s strategic failure: Suez Canal 1854-1882 (2021)
Commencement of Work
On the other hand, Ferdinand de Lesseps believed Chesney’s findings and put his faith in the Irishman.
Work commenced on the Suez Canal on 25th April 1859. The 120-mile-long excavation took 10 years and opened on 17th November 1869.
De Lesseps was in no doubt that the whole project would not have succeeded without the detailed examination, experience and knowledge of Francis Rawdon Chesney. At a celebratory event in Paris shortly after the official opening, he introduced Chesney with the words
“Messieurs, je vous presente l’homme a qui nous devons le Canal de Suez, Monsieur le General Chesney, le Pere du Canal!”
Continued Military Career
Chesney continued his military career, commanding the artillery in Hong Kong (1843-1847) and as colonel commandant of the Cork district (1847-1852). He was promoted to major-general in 1855 and full general in 1862. Subsequently, Francis was consulted on a proposed railway line through the Euphrates valley, and went on two missions to Constantinople in 1857 and 1863. However, this plan never came to fruition.
Later Life
Francis Rawdon Chesney retired to his family home in County Down, Packolet House. He also owned lands in County Down and County Cork. Chesney was described by the 19th century biographer, Alfred Webb
“Like other eminent Irishmen of the generation to which he belonged, he preserved to the last simplicity of manners and some of the raciness of accent characteristic of the north of Ireland”
Alfred Webb
Although a small man, Francis was physically very strong and fit, he walked the Mourne Mountains even when he was 80.
Francis Rawdon Chesney passed away at Packolet on 30th January 1872. He was interred in Christ Church graveyard in Kilkeel.
His wife Louisa, survived him by 30 years. She died on 11th December 1902 at Beaumont Cote in Lancashire, England. This was the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Edward Phillips Charlewood.
Remembering Chesney
Francis Rawdon Chesney was a man blessed with a great intellect, perseverance and an undaunting adventurous spirit. He must have had great faith in his abilities to undertake such daring ventures.
Thanks to his scientific knowledge and attention to detail he ‘opened up’ the 19th century world. It is a shame he is not better recognised in his own country.
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