Robert Fitzroy, a British admiral, born at Ampton Hall, Suffolk, July 5, 1805, died April 30, 1865. He entered the navy in 1819, and obtained his first commission Sept. 7, 1824. After serving on the Mediterranean and South American stations, he was appointed in 1828 to the command of one of the vessels which had been sent by the government, under Capt. King, upon an expedition to explore and survey the coasts of Patagonia, Chili, and Peru. In 1831 the Beagle, under his command, was fitted out for another surveying expedition. Charles Darwin accompanied this expedition as naturalist, and after its return in 1836 published a journal of the researches made upon it into the geology and natural history of the countries visited. In 1841 Capt. Fitzroy represented the city of Durham in parliament, and in the following year was appointed acting conservator of the river Mersey. In 1843 he became governor and commander-in-chief of the colony of New Zealand, which offices he held for three years. In 1854 he was placed at the head of the meteorological department of the board of trade, in 1857 was appointed rear admiral, and in 1863 vice admiral. In 1862 he established a system of storm warnings.

He committed suicide in a fit of mental aberration, brought on by overtaxing his brain in the performance of his duties. He was the author of several works, the most important of which was the second volume of the Narrative of the Surveying Voyages of H. M. S. Adventure and Beagle, between the years 182G and 1836" (London, 1839), the first volume being by Capt. King, and the third by Darwin.