A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Buchanan, William
BUCHANAN. (Retired Captain, 1846. f-p., 13; h-p., 39.)
William Buchanan was born 18 Nov. 1777.
This officer entered the Navy, 15 April, 1795, as A.B., on board the Narcissus 20, Capt. Percy Fraser, and, after an intermediate employment off the Bahama Islands, was discharged from the service, 19 Aug. 1796, in consequence of a severe wound, occasioned by the accidental explosion of a gun, which deprived him of his eye-sight for the space of a twelvemonth. On 24 Dec. 1799, however, he resumed his profession in the Alarm 32, Capt. Robt. Rolles, on the Jamaica station, where he assisted, as Master’s Mate, at the capture of several privateers and other armed vessels. He next served, from Feb. 1801, until the peace, in the Ruby 64, Capts. Solomon Ferris, Sir Edw. Berry, and Henry Hill, attached to the force in the North and Baltic Seas; and in June, 1803, he joined the Defence 74, Capt. Geo. Hope, under whom we find him present, 21 Oct. 1805, at the battle of Trafalgar, and, at the close of that glorious conflict, contributing to the safety of the San Ildefonso. On 24 of the same month (having but a few days previously passed his examination) he was promoted into the Tonnant 80, Capt. Chas. Tyler, refitting at Portsmouth. Lieut. Buchannan, who next served from 22 Jan. 1806, to 18 Dec. 1811, in the Audacious 74, Capts. John Seamouth, Thos. Le Marchant Gosselin, and Donald Campbell, principally on the Home and West India stations, was, in 1808, employed in landing the army under Sir Harry Burrard and Sir John Moore on the coast of Portugal, and officiated for several days as Assistant Beach-Master at the embarkation of the troops after the battle of Corunna, in Jan. 1809. His last appointment was, 25 March, 1812, as First-Lieutenant, to the Dictator 64, Capt. Jas. Pattison Stewart, in which ship, supported by the Calypso 18, he participated, 6 July following, in the capture and destruction, within the rocks of Mardoe, on the Norwegian coast, of a Danish squadron, consisting of the Nayaden of 48 guns, the Laland, Samsoe, and 'Kiel', sloops, and several gun-boats. For his share in that brilliant exploit, which occasioned the Dictator a loss of 5 men killed and 24 wounded, and the enemy of 300 killed and wounded, Lieut. Buchannan, who proved himself a most gallant and excellent officer, was advanced to the rank of Commander on 18 of the same month.[1] He assumed the rank of Captain on the retired list 12 Feb. 1846.
Commander Buchannan married, in 1797, Miss Ann Arthur, and has issue a son and three daughters. His grandson, Mr. Wm. Buchannan Alexander, was lately serving as a Naval Cadet on board the Vestal 26, Capt. Chas. Talbot, in the East Indies.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1812, p. 1362.