by Richard Hiscocks | Jan 23, 2017
Samuel Wallis 1728- 95. He was born on 23 April 1728 in Fentonwoon, Lanteglos-by-Camelford, near Camelford, Cornwall, the son of a local landowner. Having seen service in the Austrian War of Succession as a midshipman, Wallis was commissioned lieutenant on 19 October...
by Richard Hiscocks | Jan 23, 2017
King William IV 1765-1837. He was born at Buckingham House on 21 August 1765, the third son of King George III and Queen Charlotte. As Prince William, he first went to sea on 14 June 1779 with the rating of able seaman aboard Rear-Admiral Hon. Robert Digby s flagship...
by Richard Hiscocks | Dec 24, 2016
Sir Jacob Wheate c1745-1783. He was the second son of Sir George Wheate, the 3rd Baronet of Glympton, Oxfordshire, and of his wife, Avice Ackworth, the daughter of the Surveyor of the Navy from 1715-49, Sir Jacob Acworth. The family settled in Holborn, London, and...
by Richard Hiscocks | Jul 12, 2016
John Williamson @1746- 1798. He was apparently of Irish extraction. Williamson joined the navy in 1759 aboard the Dorsetshire 70, Captain Peter Denis, which ship fought at the Battle of Quiberon Bay on 20 November. In 1760 he transferred with this officer to the newly...
by Richard Hiscocks | May 19, 2016
Hon. Robert Boyle Walsingham (1736-80) An officer with the most impeccable aristocratic connections and a colourful private life, he was also a Whig politician who opposed the war against America and seemed destined for high command until he lost his life in the Great...
by Richard Hiscocks | May 2, 2016
George Robinson Walters c1742-89. He was the son of Major William Walters and of his wife Rebecca Palliser, the elder sister of Admiral Sir Hugh Palliser. Walters was commissioned lieutenant on 27 December 1762 and promoted commander of the sloop Martin 14 on 25 June...
by Richard Hiscocks | Mar 12, 2016
James Watt c1733-82. He was commissioned lieutenant on 24 June 1762 and saw duty aboard the Pearl 32, Captain Charles Saxton, being her senior lieutenant when she was paid off in 1766 after service on the Newfoundland station. During the winter of 1776-7 Watt was a...
by Richard Hiscocks | Mar 9, 2016
William Peere Williams-Freeman 1742-1832. He was born on 6 January 1742 in the Episcopal Palace at Peterborough, the son of the Rev. Dr Frederick Williams, prebendary of Peterborough, and the grandson of William Peere Williams, a politician and law reporter of repute....
by Richard Hiscocks | Feb 21, 2016
John Wheelock 1720-1779. He was born in 1720, the son of Bryan Wheelock, the deputy secretary to the Board of Trade and Plantations. Having undertaken an education at the Royal Naval Academy in the early 1730’s, Wheelock was commissioned lieutenant on 26 June 1741,...
by Richard Hiscocks | Jan 9, 2016
Hon. Thomas Windsor 1752-1832. He was born on 19 May 1752 in Cardiff, the second son of Other Lewis Windsor, the 4th Earl of Plymouth, and of his wife, Hon. Catherine Archer. Windsor saw early service in North American waters, but although promoted lieutenant on March...
by Richard Hiscocks | Dec 30, 2015
Andrew Wilkinson Died 1787. He was of Yorkshire descent, being the third son of Andrew Wilkinson, the M.P. for Aldborough in the Duke of Newcastle?s interest from 1735-65 and 1768-72, and of his wife, Barbara Jessop, the sister of Lord D?Arcy of Navan.Commissioned...
by Richard Hiscocks | Dec 20, 2015
Sir James Wallace 1731-1803. He was born in Loddon, Norfolk, the younger son of Thomas Wallace and his wife Mary Beamish. In 1746 Wallace was enrolled at the Royal Naval Academy at Portsmouth, and after serving in the Syren 24, Vigilant 64, and Intrepid 64 he passed...
by Richard Hiscocks | Dec 18, 2015
William Williams c1735-78. He was born in Pembrokeshire, the son of William Williams and of his wife, Lydia. He was the father of Admiral Sir Thomas Williams. Williams passed his lieutenant’s examination on 2 June 1756, was commissioned on 10 February 1757, serving...
