A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Brander, William
BRANDER. (Lieut., 1811. f-p., 12; h-p., 34.)
William Brander entered the Navy, 8 July, 1801, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Goliath 74, Capt. Wm. Essington, with whom, on proceeding to the West Indies, he removed, as Midshipman, 10 April, 1802, to the Sans Pareil 80. In May, 1803, having returned to England, he joined the Victory 100, flag-ship of Lord Nelson; immediately after which he sailed for the Mediterranean; and on his passage thither assisted in taking the French 32-gun frigate Embuscade. Becoming next attached to the Amphion 32, Capts. Sam. Sutton and Wm. Hoste, Mr. Brander was present, on 5 Oct. 1804, at the capture of three Spanish frigates laden with treasure, and destruction of a fourth, near Cape St. Mary; and, in 1805, he accompanied Lord Nelson to the West Indies in pursuit of the Franco-Spanish fleet. We also find him, in July, 1806, taking part in the invasion of Calabria; and, on 30 of the same month, in the reduction of the important fortress of Cotrone, with all its stores and magazines, and a garrison of upwards of 600 troops. He was subsequently taken prisoner while in charge of a prize; and, on ultimately effecting a miraculous escape after a confinement of nearly three years, passed his examination 3 Jan. 1810, and joined, in February, the Caledonia 120, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Fras. Pickmore. During the siege of Cadiz Mr. Brander appears to have been particularly instrumental in saving from destruction the Spanish ship of the line San Pablo, at a time when she had been set on fire by the enemy’s batteries, and to have further contributed to the defence of Fort Matagorda, until that stronghold was considered no longer tenable. On 1 May, 1810, he became Master’s Mate of the San Josef 110, flag-ship of Sir Chas. Cotton in the Mediterranean; and, on 14 Feb. 1811, he was promoted into the York 74, Capt. Robt. Barton. His subsequent appointments were – 11 Dec. in the same year, to the Bellona 74, Capts. John Erskine Douglas and Geo. M‘Kinley, employed in the North Sea and off Cherbourg and Rochefort – 30 April, 1814, to the Rover 18, Capt. Justice Finley, in which sloop he sailed for Bermuda – and, 10 Feb. 1815, to the Insolent gun-brig, Capt. Wm. Kelly, on the Cork station. Since the following Sept. Lieut. Brander has been on half-pay. Agents – Messrs. Halford and Co.