A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Carpenter, William
CARPENTER. (Lieut., 1824. f-p., 17; h-p., 23.)
William Carpenter, born 2 July, 1792, is brother of Mr. Geo. Carpenter, Gunner, R.N.; and first-cousin of Mr. Wm. Dyer, Purser and Paymaster, R.N. (1839).
This officer entered the Navy, 26 March, 1807, on board the Philomel 18, Capt. Geo. Crawley; and, on proceeding soon afterwards to the Mediterranean in the Delight 16, Capt. Philip Cosby Handfield, was present, 30 Jan. 1808, in an endeavour to re-capture four Sicilian gun-boats, on the coast of Calabria, where the Delight, having unfortunately taken the ground, was ultimately obliged to surrender, after losing, from an exposure of 15 hours to a galling fire from the enemy’s batteries and troops, two-thirds of her crew, together with her Commander and Capt. Thos. Secombe of the Glatton [errata 1], who was serving on board at the time, and to both of whom Mr. Carpenter had acted on the occasion as Aide-de-camp. On 20 Feb. following he joined, as Midshipman, the Porcupine 24, Capts. Hon. Henry Duncan and Robt. Elliott, and, until Oct. 1814, he continued to serve, on the same station, in the Unite 36, Capt. Patrick Campbell, Paulina 16, Capt. W. Percival, and Unite again, Capt. Edwin Henry Chamberlayne. He then became attached to the Dee 24, Capt. John Wm. Andrew, whom he accompanied to Hudson’s Bay; and was afterwards, as Admiralty Midshipman, appointed – 3 Dec. 1815, and 19 Feb. 1817, to the Perseus 22, and Tamar 24, Capts. Thos. Rich. Toker and Hon. John Gordon, on the Newfoundland station – 10 Jan. 1820, to the Egeria 22, Capt. John Joseph Nicolas, lying at Portsmouth – 25 March, 1820, to the Pelter 12, Lieut.-Commanders Wm. Minchin and Robt. Carley Curry, likewise employed off Newfoundland – and, 30 Nov. 1822 and 18 Jan. 1823, to the Impregnable and Britannia first-rates, bearing the flag at Plymouth of Hon. Sir Alex. Cochrane. Since his promotion to the rank of Lieutenant, which took place 21 Jan. 1824, exactly 10 years after he had passed his examination, Mr. Carpenter has been on half-pay.
He married, 31 Jan. 1825, Miss Ann Elms, and has issue a son and daughter.