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A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Appleby, Young

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1625317A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Appleby, YoungWilliam Richard O'Byrne

APPLEBY. (Retired Commander, 1840. f-p., 12; h-p., 43.)

Young Appleby entered the Navy, 18 Nov. 1792, as Boatswain’s Servant, on board the Alfred 74, Capt. John Bazeley. After sharing in Lord Howe’s action, 1 June, 1794, he joined the Blenheim 98, Capt. Thos. Lenox Frederick, and while under that officer was present in Hotham’s skirmish with the French fleet, 13 July, 1795, and lost a leg in the battle fought off Cape St. Vincent, 14 Feb. 1797. He then became attached in succession to the Cambridge 80, flag-ship of Sir Rich. King, Haerlem 64, Capt. Geo. Burlton, Cambridge again, bearing the flag of Sir Thos. Pasley, Romulus 36, Capt. John Culverhouse, and Royal William, flag-ship of Admiral Milbanke. Obtaining a commission, dated 4 Dec. 1799, he next served, from Aug. 1800, to April, 1802, in the Actaeon 44, Capt. Philip Hire, attached to the Impress service at Liverpool, and, from 20 June, 1803, until 27 Oct. 1806, had command of a Signal station on the coast of Dorsetshire. On one occasion, when in a boat belonging to the Actaeon, with only three men, he entered a vessel having 200 sailors on board, of whom he brought away 17, and drove 30 over the sides. During his semaphoric command, Mr. Appleby volunteered, on another occasion, to attack at noonday, with only 27 fencibles, a French privateer carrying 14 guns and about 80 men. He was admitted to the out-pension of Greenwich Hospital 22 Sept. 1806, and, on 7 Jan. 1840, accepted the rank he now holds.

Commander Appleby married, 4 Nov. 1803, and has issue one son.