A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Collins, William
COLLINS. (Retired Commander, 1843. f-p., 19; h-p., 34.)
William Collins, born in April, 1782, lost his grandfather and brother both in the Army.
This officer entered the Navy, 13 Dec. 1794, as a Volunteer, on board the Ariadne 20, Capts. Robt. Gambier Middleton, Robt. Plampin, H. Ball, Jas. Bradby, and Patrick Campbell; under whose successive command he continued to serve, latterly as Midshipman, until paid off in June, 1802. During that period he witnessed one of Hotham’s actions in 1795 – was at the landing, in 1796, of the troops at Ste. Lucie – and aided in the capture of several privateers and other vessels. While afterwards serving, from June, 1803, to Nov. 1804, on board the Bloodhound 10, Lieut.-Commander Henry Richardson, he assisted, in 1804, at the bombardment of Havre de Grace, and was repeatedly in conflict with the Boulogne flotilla. Having passed his examination 4 Sept. 1805, Mr. Collins was promoted, on leaving the Bloodhound, to an Acting-Sub-Lieutenancy in the Earnest gun-brig, Lieut.Commander Rich. Templar, and, in consideration of his subsequent services off Ostend, and in the rivers Elbe and Weser, was made a full Lieutenant 12 June, 1807, and appointed, a few days afterwards, to the Royalist 18, Capt. John Maxwell; during his two years’ servitude in which vessel he contributed to the capture, in the Downs, of one Danish and two French privateers. Assuming command, 10 May, 1809, of the Mary hired cutter, of 8 guns, he made several prizes, beat off on one occasion two of the enemy’s privateers, and for the general importance of his services, especially for his promptitude in communicating to Admiral Young the intelligence of the French fleet having descended the Scheldt as far as Flushing, received the thanks of that gallant officer in the presence of the assembled Captains of the squadron. The Mary having been placed out of commission 24 April, 1812, Mr. Collins was next, as First-Lieutenant, appointed, 20 Sept. 1813, to the Daphne 20, Capt. Jas. Green, in which he beheld the evacuation of Danzig. He was finally paid off 14 Sept. 1815; and awarded his present rank 6 April, 1843.
In 1801 and 1804, Commander Collins, then in the Ariadne and Bloodhound, was twice compelled to enter the Hospital at North Yarmouth, in consequence of severe injuries received in the execution of his duty. He married, 20 June, 1807, Mrs. Eleanor Skee, daughter of Mr. Thomas Sherrid, Pilot, of North Yarmouth.