A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Boyce, William Henry
BOYCE. (LLieut., 1805. f-p., 14; h-p., 41.)
William Henry Boyce entered the Navy, in Dec. 1792, as Lieutenant’s Servant, on board the Alcide 74, Capt. Robt. Linzee, on the Mediterranean station, where, in 1794, he served with the same officer in the Windsor Castle 98. In May, 1797, after an unemployed interval of more than two years, he became Midshipman of the Intrepid 64, Capts. R. Parker and E. Bass, and in that ship proceeded with convoy to St. Helena, He subsequently joined, in succession, the Gallant and Viper, Lieut.-Commanders Wm. Hargood and Wm. Stag, lying at Portsmouth – Impregnable 98, Capt. Jonathan Faulkner, sent, in the summer of 1799, to Lisbon in charge of convoy – Glory 98, Capt. Thos. Wells, employed during the three following years in the Channel – Aurora 28, Capt. Micajah Malbon, off Newfoundland – Dreadnought 98, Capts. John Child Purvis, John Bowen, and Robt. Carthew Reynolds, one of the Channel fleet in 1803-4 – and Ville de Paris 110, Capts. Thos. Le Marchant Gosselin and John Whitby, also on the Home station. On 28 May, 1805, Mr. Boyce was made Lieutenant into the Mars 74, Capt. Geo. Duff, which ship, after participating in the battle of Trafalgar, he left in March, 1806. He was next employed for a few weeks in the Impress Service at Folkestone; commanded, from 15 Jan. 1808, to 24 Dec. 1811, the Bienfaisant, On the Plymouth station; and, from May to Dec. 1813, served in the Veteran 64, Lieut.-Commander Stephen Donovan, prison-ship at Portsmouth. He has not since been afloat.
Lieut. Boyce was presented in 1812, in consequence of a serious injury he had received in the eye, with a gratuity of 91l. 5s., but was refused a pension.