A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Dickson, William (a)
DICKSON, Bart. (Captain, 1837. f-p., 22; h-p., 14.)
Sir William Dickson, born 10 June, 1798; is eldest son of the late Rear-Admiral Sir Arch. Collingwood Dickson, Bart.,[1] by Harriet, daughter of Admiral Bourmaster, of Tichfield; nephew of Lieut.-Colonel Sir Arch. Dickson, K.C.B., K.C.H., and of the present Commander David John Dickson, R.N.; great-nephew of Admiral Sir Arch. Dickson, Bart, who died in 1803; brother-in-law of Capt. Thos. Wren Carter, R.N.; and cousin of Capt. John Brett Purvis, R.N. He has also two brothers in the Navy, Alexander Collingwood Thomas, a Commander – and John Bourmaster, a Lieutenant.
This officer entered the Royal Naval College 1 Aug. 1811, and embarked, 6 May, 1814, as a Volunteer; on board the Cumberland 74, Capt. Thos. Baker, fitting for the Cape of Good Hope, where he attained the rating of Midshipman 2 Nov. following. He afterwards served for upwards of three years, under his father and Capt. Wm. Paterson, on board the Caledonia 120, Rochfort 80, {sc|Erindanus}} 36, and Minden 74; and in the latter ship was present, as Admiralty Midshipman, at the battle of Algiers, 27 Aug. 1816. Until promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, 15 Oct. 1822, Mr. Dickson further served, on the East India, South American, and Home stations, in the Trincomalee 46, Capt. Philip Henry Bridges, Vengeur 74, Capt. Fred. Lewis Maitland, Atholl 28, Capt. Henry Bourchier, Liffey 50, Capt. Hon. Henry Duncan, Ramillies 74, Capt. Edw. Brace, and Royal Sovereign yacht, Capts. Chas. Adam and Sir Jahleel Brenton. He was subsequently appointed to the Queen Charlotte 100, flag-ship of the Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth, Seringapatam 46, Capt. Chas. Sotheby, Revenge 78, bearing the flag in the Mediterranean of Sir Harry Burrard Neale, and Raleigh sloop; and, on 19 Feb. 1828, was wrecked off the coast of Portugal, while proceeding to the last-mentioned station as a passenger in the Terror bomb, Capt. David Hope. On 4 March, 1829, we find him promoted to the command of the Raleigh; and, on 28 Sept. 1833, appointed to the Orestes 18, off Lisbon. Attaining Post-rank 10 Jan. 1837, Sir Wm. Dickson was further invested with the command, 30 Aug. 1841, of the Volage 26, on the North America and West India station. He paid that vessel off in 1845, and has not since been afloat. Agents – Messrs. Halford and Co.
- ↑ Sir A. C. Dickson served as Lieutenant of the Royal George in Lord Howe’s action of 1 June, 1794; and afterwards commanded the Monarch and Orion 74’s, during the expeditions to the Helder and the Walcheren, in 1799 and 1809. he died 18 June 1827.