Santa Clara County
Biographies
NIGEL D’OYLY
NIGEL D’OYLY was born in Fontainebleau, France,
July 6, 1835. His father, Robert D’Oyly,
a native of Gloucester, England, was a barrister in the city of London,
England; his mother, Emily (Ross) D’Oyly, a native of
Edinburgh, Scotland.
When nine years of age Nigel D’Oyly was sent by his parents with relatives to America
where he received his early education. As a youth he developed a
fondness for the sea and his ability as navigator very soon won for him
responsible positions as commander of ocean ships sailing out of New York
harbor, which positions he continued to fill until the outbreak of the Civil
war. July 18, 1861, he entered the volunteer navy as acting master
and was assigned to duty as navigating officer of the
U. S. S. Lancaster, Pacific Squadron, where he remained until
1862, when he was ordered to New York and placed in command of the
W. G. Anderson, West Gulf Squadron, under Farragut. He cruised with
this vessel in the Gulf of Mexico and won a record as an able commander,
capturing the rebel schooners Jeff Davis and Monticello, and also the
blockade runners Lily and Theresa. February 19, 1863, he was ordered
by Admiral Farragut to command the United States sidewheel
steamer Jackson. Twice he engaged the enemy with this vessel when he was so
sick that he commanded his ship while seated in a chair on the quarterdeck, and
during the summer of 1863 he was invalided and sent north on sick leave. His
recovery was so slow that in September, 1863, he was compelled, owing to ill
health, to resign the service. When he at last regained his health he
re-entered the merchant service and for ten years was recognized as one of the
most competent shipmasters on the sea.
In 1863 Captain D’Oyly married
Annie Linnell of Woburn, Mass. Five children were the
result of this union: Robert, whose death occurred March 17, 1889;
Leila Maud, Emily Pauline, Edward, and May Linnell,
who are living with their mother.
Captain D’Oyly retired from the
sea in 1874, living in southern California and Oakland until 1880, when he
removed with his family to San Jose, Cal., where he resided until the time of
his death, October 7, 1894, and where he was universally respected as
a public-spirited citizen. He was elected a Companion of the First Class of the
Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, Commandery of
California, December 22, 1888, and proved himself an enthusiastic
Companion, full of patriotism and always working to further the best interests of
the order.
Captain D’Oyly was a man of
remarkable quickness of perception, of firm and unmistakable views and
unswerving rectitude. His strong mentality, together with his magnetic
personality, ready sympathy and upright character won for him the esteem and
affection of all who knew him. His analysis of a business situation was always
most clear and complete and his opinion on any matter of business was regarded
as of greatest value. He greatly appreciated the quiet life with his family, to
whom he left the grandest of all legacies – that of a life nobly lived and
serenely closed. He never failed to accomplish the
duties nearest him and with unceasing energy laid hold of any opportunity for
advancement which presented itself to him.
Transcribed by Marie Hassard 03 April 2016.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Page
1068. The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2016 Marie Hassard.