07/08/2025
The Voyage of the Blonde - A Biography of Charles Robert Malden
By Reginald John Malden
(All profits of this book will be for the charities of the Kamehameha Foundation)
The son of a prosperous surgeon, in Putney, Charles Robert Malden was educated locally and, at the age of 11 encouraged, against his will, to join the Royal Navy. He saw service in the Mediterranean, Indian Ocean, and America, becoming a skilled surveyor and promoted Lieutenant. In 1824 he joined HMS Blonde under Lord Byron as Navigating Officer and Surveyor on the voyage to the Sandwich Islands to return the bodies of the King and Queen who had died from measles during their visit to England. On the return voyage an Island was discovered which was named Malden in his honour. The Island was subsequently used for the mining of guano for the fertilizer trade, and in the mid 20th century used as a testing site for Britain’s nuclear weapons.
On leaving the Navy he tutored pupils and, in 1837 set up what became the first Preparatory School on Britain, Windlesham House School in Sussex, which went through 5 generations of Malden headmasters, a unique record. The School continues to flourish to this day, being the first Preparatory School to become co-educational.
All profits of this book will be for the charities of the Kamehameha Foundation.
The son of a prosperous surgeon, in Putney, Charles Robert Malden was educated locally and, at the age of 11 encouraged, against his will, to join the Royal Navy. He saw service in the Mediterranean, Indian Ocean, and America, becoming a skilled surveyor and promoted Lieutenant. In 1824 he joined HM...
