A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Betty, Christopher William
BETTY. (Retired Commander, 1832. f-p., 16; h-p., 38.)
Christopher William Betty entered the Navy, 1 Aug, 1793, as A.B., on board the Invincible 74, Capt. Hon. Thos. Pakenham, stationed in the Channel; removed, as Midshipman, in Oct. following, to the Majestic 74, commanded by the late Sir Chas. Cotton, under whom he fought in Lord Howe’s action, 1 June, 1794; and afterwards proceeded to the West Indies, where he served for two years under the flag of Vice-Admiral Benj. Caldwell. He then rejoined Sir C. Cotton on board the Mars of 82 guns and 634 men; and, on Capt. Alex. Hood succeeding to the command, was present, 21 April, 1798, at the capture, off Brest, of the French ship Hercule of 78 guns and 680 men, after a deadly yard-arm and yard-arm conflict of more than an hour’s continuance, during which the British sustained a loss of 30 killed and 60 wounded, and the enemy of nearly 300 killed and wounded. Mr. Betty, who subsequently became attached to the Prince and Prince George 98’s, bearing each the flag of Sir C. Cotton, was promoted, as a reward for his meritorious conduct on the above occasion, to a Lieutenancy, 17 Sept. 1801, in the Atlas 98, Capt. Theophilus Jones. From May, 1802, until July, 1804, he served in the Channel on board the Seagull 18, Capt. Henry Burke; and on next joining, in Feb. 1805, the Dreadnought 98, flagship of Vice-Admiral Collingwood, commanded latterly by Capt. John Conn, bore a part, and was slightly wounded, in the ensuing battle of Trafalgar. He left the Dreadnought in April, 1806, but was afterwards appointed – 24 March, 1808, to the Myrtle sloop, Capt. Thos. Innes, employed in the Channel – 24 May following, to the Téméraire 98, Capt. Sir Chas. Hamilton, flag-ship subsequently of Rear-Admiral Manley Dixon, on the Baltic station – 17 Nov. 1809, to the Tonnant 80, Capt. Sir C. Hamilton, attached for some time to the force off Cadiz – and, 24 Feb. 1812, after an interval of 15 months, to the Zephyr sloop, Capt. Thos. Cuthbert Hitchens, stationed on the north coast of Spain. Not having been employed since Aug. 1813, he at length accepted the rank he now holds, 4 April, 1832.
Commander Betty married, 11 March, 1799, and has issue two children.