A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Dawson, William (a)
DAWSON. (Capt., 1841. f-p., 13; h-p., 25.)
William Dawson (a) entered the Navy, 24 June, 1809, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Active of 46 guns, Capt. Jas. Alex. Gordon, attached to the fleet, in the Mediterranean. On 12 Feb. 1811, he assisted, as Midshipman, in the boats under Lieut. Jas. Dickinson, at the capture of a convoy, fearfully protected, in the harbour of Ortona; subsequently to which, on 13 March following, we find him enacting a part in the memorable action off Lissa, when a British squadron, carrying in the whole 156 guns and 879 men, completely routed, after a conflict of six hours, and a loss to the Active of 4 men killed and 24 wounded, a Franco-Venetian squadron, whose force amounted to 284 guns and 2655 men. From July, 1811, to Sept. 1814, he next served on the Irish and West India stations in the Leonidas 38, Capts. Anselm John Griffiths, Fred. Wm. Aylmer, and Geo. Fras. Seymour; under the latter of whom he assisted at the chase and capture of the Paul Jones, American privateer, of 16 guns and 85 men. He then removed to the Cyane, of 32 guns and 171 men, Capt. Gordon Thos. Falcon; and on 20 Feb. 1815, off Madeira, joined, as Master’s Mate, in a fierce action, which terminated in the capture, by the United States frigate Constitution, of 54 guns and 469, of the Cyane (whose loss on the occasion amounted to 6 killed and 13 wounded), and of her consort, the Levant, of 20 guns and 131 men. Being soon afterwards restored to liberty in consequence of the peace, Mr. Dawson returned home on board the Dragon 74, Capt. Robt. Barrie; and from the following Oct. until Sept. 1816, was employed in the West Indies, part of the time as Acting-Lieutenant, in the Briseis 10, Capt. Geo. Domett. Between Feb. 1821, and the receipt of his first commission, which he did not obtain until 14 Dec. following, five years previously to which period he had passed his examination, he further served in the Albion 74, Capt. Rich. Raggett, and cruized for some time with George IV. in the Royal George yacht, Capt. Hon. Sir Chas. Paget. After a subsequent attachment of four months to the Ganges 74, he rejoined the Royal George, Capts. Geo. Mundy and Adolphus FitzClarence; and continued in that vessel, from 14 Jan. 1830, until promoted to the rank of Commander, 6 July, 1832. Capt. Dawson, whose next appointment was to the command, 7 March, 1840, of the Victor 16, on the North America and West India station, has been on half-pay since his attainment of Post-rank, 23 Nov. 1841.