A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Douglas, Richard
DOUGLAS. (Commander, 1823. f-p., 21; h-p., 27.)
Richard Douglas entered the Navy, 14 Aug. 1799, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Royal George 100, Capt. Wm. Domett, bearing the flag in the Channel of Lord Bridport, in which ship he continued until shortly after his attainment of the rating of Midshipman, 1 Oct. 1800. In July, 1803, he re-embarked on board the Ville de Paris 110, Capt. Tristram Robt. Ricketts, flag-ship subsequently of Hon. Wm. Cornwallis; on removing from which to the Achille 74, Capt. Rich. King, he appears to have been wounded at the battle of Trafalgar 21 Oct. 1805, and to have been with a squadron under Sir Sam. Hood at the capture of four French frigates off Rochefort, 25 Sept. 1806. In Jan. 1809, Mr. Douglas joined the Neptune 98, bearing the flag in the West Indies of Sir Alex. Cochrane; after serving under whom at the reduction of Martinique, he was appointed, 15 March following, Acting-Lieutenant of the Surinam brig, Capt. John Lake. He was next transferred, in a similar capacity, to the Intrepid 64, Capt. Geo. Andrews; and, being confirmed on 18 Sept. in the same year, was afterwards appointed, on the Home station — 30 June, 1810, to the Coquette, Capts. Robt. Forbes and Geo. Hewson — 3 Dec. 1811, to the Bellona 74, Capts. John Erskine Douglas and Geo. M‘Kinley — and 21 Nov. 1814, and 7 Dec. 1815, to the Namur and Bulwark 74’s, flag-ships of Sir Chas. Rowley, in which he successively served until 21 Oct. 1817. His next appointments were — 20 Nov. 1820, to the Coast Blockade, as Supernumerary Lieutenant of the Severn 40, Capt. Wm. M‘Culloch; and, 22 Jan. 1822, to the Coast Guard. Acquiring the rank he now holds 5 Sept. 1823, Commander Douglas, in 1831-2, again served in the Coast Guard, and from 26 Aug. 1840, until the autumn of 1843, commanded the Poictiers 72, guard-ship at Chatham. He has not been since employed.
He married, 22 Sept. 1830, Jemima, daughter of Wm. Winchester, Esq., of Stoke, niece of Alderman Winchester, M.P., of Hawkhurst, and sister-in-law of Commander Wm. Walker, R.N., by whom he has issue.