A Naval Biographical Dictionary/D’Aranda, William
D’ARANDA. (Lieut., 1808. f-p., 17; h-p., 29.)
William D’Aranda entered the Navy, 9 July, 1801, as Midshipman, on board the Powerful 74, Capt. Sir Fras. Laforey, whom he eventually accompanied to the West Indies. In April, 1803, he joined the Diligence 20, Capt. Alex. Robt. Kerr, on the home station; and from July, 1804, until Nov. 1808, he served, nearly the whole time as Master’s Mate, on board the Atlas 74, Capts. Sam. Pym and Jas. Sanders, in which he appears to have been present at the battle of St. Domingo 6 Feb. 1806, and subsequently at the blockade of Cadiz. He obtained his commission 16 Dec. 1808, and was afterwards appointed – 31 May, 1809, to the Woodlark 10, Capt. Geo. Edw. Watts, in the Baltic – 1 May, 1811, to the Laurestinus 24, Capts. John Clavell and Hon. Wm. Gordon, on the Channel station – 31 March, 1812, as First-Lieutenant, to the Bonne Citoyenne 20, Capt. Pitt Burnaby Greene, in South America – 27 Aug. 1812, to the command, on the latter station, of the Nancy 12, which he retained until 14 March, 1814 – and, in the course of 1816, to the Pique, Junon, and Niger frigates, Capts. Arthur Fanshawe and Sam. Jackson, employed in the West Indies and North America, whence he returned home in Sept. 1817. Lieut. D’Aranda – who afterwards commanded the Pestonjee Bouranjee from 17 Aug. 1842 until 28 Jan. 1843, and during that period visited the river St. Lawrence – has been employed, since 26 May, 1845, as Admiralty Agent in a contract mail steam-vessel.
This officer has been, we understand, 16 times in action with the enemy; and has had the good fortune to rescue 46 persons from shipwreck. Agents – Messrs. Ommanney.