A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Fead, William Frederick
FEAD. (Commander, 1845. f-p., 18; h-p., 5.)
William Frederick Fead is nephew of the late Capt. Fras. Fead, R.N.
This officer entered the Navy, 9 June, 1824, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Pylades 18, Capt. Fras. Fead; and, from 1 June, 1825, until 20 Aug. 1830, on which date he passed his examination, served, as Midshipman, on the Home and Mediterranean stations, in the Prince Regent 120, flag-ship of Sir Robt. Moorsom, Clio 18, Capts. Robt. Aitchison and Robt. Deans, and Philomel 10, Capt. Chas. Graham. He afterwards joined, in the capacity of Mate, the Revenge 78, Capts. Chas. Orlando Brjdgeman and Jas. Hillyar, Rattlesnake 28, Capt. C. Graham, Spitfire steamer, Lieut.-Commanders Wm. Henry Symons and Andw. Kennedy, Jupiter 38, Capt. Hon. Fred. Wm. Grey, Inconstant 36, Capts. John Hayes and Dan. Pring, and Hercules 74, Capts. Maurice Fred. Fitzhardinge Berkeley and John Toup Nicolas; and in those ships he served in every quarter of the globe. His appointments as Lieutenant, which rank he attained 28 June, 1838, appear to have been — 8 April, 1839, to the Curaçoa 24, Capt. Jenkin Jones, on the South American station — 30 Oct. 1840, to the Grecian 16, Capt. Wm. Smyth, at the Cape of Good Hope — and, in 1844-5, to the Camperdown 104, Queen 110, and Trafalgar 120, flag-ships at Sheerness of Sir John Chambers White. Being First-Lieutenant of the Trafalgar when visited by Her Majesty at Spithead, he was in consequence promoted to the rank of Commander, by commission dated 21 June, 1845. Since that period he has been unemployed.
Commander Fead married, 1 Aug. 1843, Charlotte, daughter of W. Hillier, Esq., of Boley Hill, Rochester, and widow of Lieut. Rawlings, of the 48th Regiment.