A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Giles, William
GILES. (Lieutenant, 1815. f-p., 10; h-p.,)
William Giles was born 22 Sept. 1787. This officer entered the Navy, 23 May, 1805, as Midshipman, On board the Princess Royal 98, Capt. Robt. Carthew Reynolds; on removing from which ship to the Inflexible 64, Capt. Joshua Rowley Watson, he attended the expedition to Copenhagen in Aug. 1807, served on shore with the naval brigade throughout the whole of the siege, and subsequently assisted in fitting out the Danish shipping. After serving for some months as Master’s Mate, on the Home station, of the Vulture 18 and Hope 10, both commanded by Capt. Joseph Pearce, he rejoined Capt. Watson on board the Alfred 74, in time to unite in the operations of 1809 against the island of Walcheren, where he commanded a magazine-boat. During his continuance in the Alfred, Mr. Giles further served with the brigade of seamen attached to the army at the reduction of the islands of Guadeloupe, St. Martin’s, and St. Eustatius – was employed for four months with the flotilla at the defence of Cadiz, during which he appears to have been engaged upwards of forty times with the enemy’s batteries and forces, and to have received two flesh-wounds in the right leg – and assisted in removing the dead and wounded after the battle of Barrosa. In April, 1811, he removed with Capt. Watson to the Implacable 74, attached to the fleet off Toulon, and during the last two years of the war he served in the Impétueux, Stately, and Rodney, flag-ships of Vice-Admiral Geo. Martin, on the Lisbon station. Having passed his examination 19 June, 1811, he was at length promoted to his present rank by commission dated 3 Feb. 1815; since which period he has not been afloat.
Lieut. Giles married first, 25 Nov. 1817, Sarah, daughter of Thos. Rosewell, Esq., of Emsworth, co. Hants; and, secondly, 13 April, 1843, Sarah, daughter of Mr. John Rogers, of Everton, near Lymington, in the same county. He has issue by both marriages.