A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Boswell, Walter
BOSWELL. (Commander, 1814. f-p., 30; h-p., 35.)
Walter Boswell entered the Navy, 1 Sept. 1782, as Lieutenant’s Servant, on board the Blenheim 74, Capt. Adam Duncan, with whom we find him present, 20 Oct. following, in Lord Howe’s partial action with the combined French and Spanish fleets, near Gibraltar. He afterwards served chiefly as Midshipman and Master’s Mate, on the Halifax, Home, and Mediterranean stations, on board the Ariadne, Capts. Joseph Ellison and Sam. Osborn, Vixen, Lieut.-Commander Mark Wentworth, St. George, Lieut.-Commander Barker, Gorgon, Lieut.-Commander Chas. Craven, Impregnable 98, Vice-Admiral Graves, Inspector, Capt. Alex. Mackey, Scout, Capt. R. R. Bowyer, Trimmer, Capt. Fras. Fayerman, Courageux 74, Capt. Hon. Wm. Waldegrave (in which ship he participated in the reduction of Toulon in Aug. 1793), and Queen Charlotte 100, Admiral Lord Howe. He was promoted to a Lieutenancy, 20 March, 1795, in the Barfleur 98, flag-ship in the Mediterranean of Vice-Admiral Waldegrave, his former Captain, and afterwards joined, 14 Jan. 1797, the Gibraltar 80, Capt. John Pakenham, off Lisbon – 3 April following, the Romney 50, bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Waldegrave off Newfoundland – 16 May, 1801, the Theseus 74, Capt. John Bligh, under whom he assisted, in Sept. 1803, at the capture of Port Dauphin, St. Domingo – 29 Oct. following, the Cumberland 74, in which ship he returned home – and 29 Oct. 1804, the Conquest gun-brig, which he commanded in the Channel until 30 Aug. 1814. Since that period, shortly previous to which, 15 June, he had been advanced to his present rank. Commander Boswell has been on half-pay. Agents – Goode and Lawrence.