American Historical Ephemera and Photography

MARKHAM, Sir Albert Hastings. (1841-1918). Autograph letter signed ("Albert H. Markham") while serving aboard "H.M.S. Niger / At Sea / From Bangkok to Singapore." 6 April 1859. 12pp+, 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 in. (light toning, creases). Addressed to his mother. Accompanied by corresponding cover, mailed to his mother in Gatesville, Wisconsin.

A lengthy ALS in which Markham describes in detail his work aboard various ships, and encounters with pirates. Letter reads, in small part: "...we left Hong Kong, with the gun boats 'Clown' and 'Janus' in tow in search of pirates....Captain Colville was in command, and we had about 70 men in the boats ready for landing without counting the gun boats men which of course would not land...when we got pretty close in, we could see the pirates 'turning out' beating their gongs, and waving their banners. They seemed determined to make a resistance for they opened fire upon us from their battery, and also from some masked batteries....We had to wade through a river up to our waists, about 50 yards long, in the face of a heavy fire...when we got over we broke though the stockade and entered embrasures of the battery, bayonetting the men at the guns, the Chinamen could not stand a second charge...we soon possessed ourselves of the village, and destroyed all the guns...."

Albert Markham was the fifth son of retired British Royal Navy Captain John Markham. John Markham emigrated to America ca1850s, however, Albert joined the Royal Navy in 1856 at the age of 15. He would go on to attain the rank of admiral after a decades long career in which he battled pirates, suppressed the slave trade, and engaged in Arctic Exploration among other activities. Markham is also known for designing the national ensign of New Zealand which remains in use today.

The HMS Niger was commissioned on 14 May 1856, under Captain Arthur A.L.P. Cochrane, RN for service in the East Indies Station and China Station. She was involved with the Second Anglo-Chinese War. When Captain Cochrane was invalided, Captain Peter Cracroft took command on the 8th of September 1858. In 1860 she transferred to the Australian Station and was involved in the New Zealand War 1860 – 61.