A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Edwards, William
EDWARDS. (Retired Commander, 1840. f-p., 18; h-p., 33.)
William Edwards was born 30 Oct. 1781.
This officer entered the Navy, 21 Jan. 1796, as Ordinary, on board the Atlas 98, Capts. Edm. Dod, Matthew Squire, Shuldham Peard, and Theophilus Jones, stationed in the Channel, where he speedily attained the rating of Midshipman. Soon after his removal to the Defiance 74, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Thos. Graves, we find him witnessing Lord Keith’s capture, on 19 June, 1799, of three frigates and two brigs under Rear-Admiral Perrée; and, while in the same ship, sharing in the battle off Copenhagen, 2 April, 1801. Subsequently to that event, Mr. Edwards joined the Dreadnought 98, Capt. Jas. Vashon, Dryad 36, Commodore Wm. Domett, and Prince of Wales 98, flag-ship in succession of Vice-Admirals Sir Robt. Calder and Edw. Thornbrough, under the former of whom he bore a part in the action of 22 July, 1805. Attaining the rank of Lieutenant, 15 Aug. 1806, he was next appointed, in the autumn of that year, to the Agamemnon 64, Capt. Jonas Rose; in command of a party of seamen belonging to which ship he joined the naval brigade employed at the siege of Copenhagen, in Sept. 1807. His appointments afterwards were – 26 May, 1809, to the Foudroyant 80, flag-ship at the Brazils of Rear-Admiral Hon. Michael De Courcy – 26 Dec. 1809, and 19 Dec. 1810, to the Zephyr 14, and Fly 16, commanded in the Downs by Capts. Fras. Geo. Dickins and Manley Hall Dixon – 8 May, 1813, to the Impress service at Waterford, where, and at Cork, he served until the following Dec. – and, 31 Jan. 1818, to the command of the Lynx Revenue-cutter. Commander Edwards, who has been on half-pay since 1821, assumed the rank he now holds 16 Jan. 1840.
He married, 13 Jan. 1812, Maria, second daughter of John Pitt, Esq., and sister of Lieuts. Wm. and Henry Pitt, of the R.N. and R.M.