A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Charlesson, Richard Williams
CHARLESSON. (Lieut., 1815. f-p., 32; h-p., 10.)
Richard Williams Charlesson entered the Navy, 25 March, 1805, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Leopard 50, Capt. Rich. Raggett; and, on 4 Dec. 1806, became Midshipman of the Africa 64, Capts. Henry Wm. Bayntun and John Barrett, then at the Rio de la Plata. On 20 Oct. 1808, the latter ship, while in escort of a large convoy, was attacked, in the Malmo channel, south of Sweden, by a powerful flotilla of gun-boats, with whom she continued an action of nearly four hours, when, darkness closing the fight, her loss, independently of considerable damage in hull and rigging, amounted, it was found, to 9 men killed and 53 wounded. Removing, next, to the Aetna bomb, Capts. Wm. Godfrey, Paul Lawless, and John Bowker, Mr. Charlesson took part, and was slightly wounded, in Lord Gambier’s attack, of 11 and 12 April, 1809, on the French shipping in Basque Roads;[1] after which we find him attending the proximate expedition to Flushing, and serving at the siege of Cadiz. In Sept. 1810, he was transferred, with Capt. Bowker, to the Wizard 18, commanded afterwards by Capt. Fairfax Moresby, on the Mediterranean station. On his return home in the Topaze 38, Capt. Edw. Harvey, in Jan. 1812, he joined the Royal William, guard-ship at Spithead; and, after a further attachment, as Master’s Mate, to the Porcupine 22, and Surveillant 38, both commanded by Capt. Robt. Elliott, Namur 74, Capt. Fras. Wm. Austen, and Sydney surveying-vessel, Master-Commander Geo. Holbroke, on the South American, Home, and Newfoundland stations, was promoted to his present rank 11 Feb. 1815. He was next appointed, 28 March, 1826, to the Coast Blockade, as Supernumerary-Lieutenant of the Ramillies 74, Capt. Hugh Pigot; and, entering the Coast Guard 24 July, 1830, continued in that service until 27 Feb. 1843, when he assumed charge of the Royal George Revenue-vessel, in which he is now employed.
- ↑ Vide Gaz, 1809, p. 539.