A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Clark, William John Stephen
CLARK. (Retired Commander, 1834. f-p., 32; h-p., 25.)
William John Stephen Clark entered the Navy, 19 Aug. 1790, as A.B., on board the Defiance 74, Capt. Geo. Murray, and, in Nov. following, removed, as Midshipman, to the Winchelsea, Capt. Fisher, employed in the Channel. After an interval of two years, he joined, 22 Aug. 1793, the Intrepid 64, Capt. Hon. Chas. Carpenter, on his subsequent transference from which ship to L’Espion 18, Capt. Wm. Hugh Kittoe, he was taken by three French frigates, 22 July, 1794. From Nov. 1795, the date of his release from captivity, until the receipt of his commission, 24 April, 1802, Mr. Clark subsequently served, on the Home and Mediterranean stations, latterly as Acting-Lieutenant, on board the Fame 74, Capt. Thos. Taylor, Virginie 44, Capt. Anth. Hunt, Beaulieu 38, Capt. Fras. Fayerman, and Queen Charlotte 100, and Barfleur 98, flag-ships of Rear-Admiral Jas. Hawkins Whitehed and Cuthbert Collingwood. While in the Virginie he was invested, 9 Nov. 1797, as prizemaster, with the command of the Indian Chief, a captured American East Indiaman. His appointments, subsequent to his promotion, appear to have been – 9 April, 1804, to the. Cyclops, Capts. John Fyffe, Fras. Douglas, and Gilbert Heathcote, stationed off Lymington – 13 April, 1805, to the Puissant 74, Capts. John Irwin and John Hall, lying at Spithead – 27 Jan. 1809, to be agent for transports afloat, in which capacity he attended the expedition to Flushing – 9 Oct. 1812, again to the Puissant, Capt. Benj. Wm. Page – and, 22 Sept. 1813, once more to the transport service, an event which occasioned his visiting Bermuda and the Chesapeake, whence he returned in Aug. 1815. He was next employed in the Coast Guard from 7 June, 1821, until 1833; and, on 25 Jan. 1834, accepted the rank he now holds.