A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Dickson, William Henry
DICKSON. (Commander, 1815. f-p., 15; h-p., 31.)
William Henry Dickson is son of the late Admiral Dickson.
This officer entered the Navy, in March, 1801, as Midshipman, on board the Powerful 74, Capt. Sir Fras. Laforey, whom he successively accompanied to the Baltic, to Cadiz, and to South America. Independently of various ships, on the books of which we merely find him borne for the purpose of effecting a passage from one station to another, Mr. Dickson, subsequently to the peace of Amiens, served on board La Virginie 38, Capt. John Poo Beresford, and Centaur 74, bearing the broad pendant in the West Indies of Commodore Sir Sam. Hood, of which ship he became an Acting-Lieutenant 5 April, 1805. Being confirmed by the Admiralty 16 Jan. 1806, he afterwards joined – 15 Feb. 1806, the Camilla 28, Capts. John Tower and John Bowen, off Newfoundland – 11 April, 1807, the Jupiter 50, Capt. Henry Edw. Reginald Baker, under whom, when returning from China, he was wrecked on a reef of rocks, off Vigo, 10 Dec. 1808 – 20 March, 1809, and 28 March, 1810, to the Ruby 64, and Victory 100, flag-ships in the Baltic of Admirals Manley Dixon and Sir Jas. Saumarez – 11 July, 1812, to the Dragon 74, bearing the flag in the West Indies of Sir Jas. Saumarez – and, 16 Nov. 1812, to the command, on the same station, of the Maria brig, of 16 guns. He attained his present rank 21 Aug. 1815; and, after intermediately commanding the Chanticleer sloop, also in the West Indies, was placed on half-pay, in Aug. 1816. He has not since been afloat.
Commander Dickson, who was the zealous projector and principal promoter of the Royal Naval School, is now Secretary to the Royal Naval Benevolent Society.