A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Gretton, Walthall
GRETTON. (Lieut., 1828. f-p., 21; h-p., 16.)
Walthall Gretton, born 1 Feb. 1799, is son of the late Rev. Walthall Gretton, Vicar of Audlem, Cheshire, by Ann, second daughter of Marshall Wright, Fort-Major of Dartmouth Castle.
This officer entered the Navy, 17 May, 1810, as a Volunteer, on board the Menelaus 38, Capt. Sir Peter Parker, under whom he took part in the ensuing reduction of the Isle of France, and afterwards in different skirmishes with the enemy’s fleet off Toulon. Removing, as Midshipman, in the early part of 1813, to the Hibernia 120, flag-ship of Sir Wm. Sidney Smith, he continued to serve for a considerable time at the blockade of that port, where, on 5 Nov. in the same year, and on 13 Feb. 1814, he witnessed Sir Edw. Pellew’s two actions. He subsequently joined – in 1814, the Cyrus 20, Capt. Wm. Fairbrother Carroll, employed in the Bay of Biscay and off the coast of Ireland – in 1819 (three years previously to which period he had passed his examination), the Owen Glendower 42, Capt. Hon. Robt. Cavendish Spencer, whom he accompanied to South America and Copenhagen – in 1822, the Phaeton 46, commanded on the West India and Mediterranean stations by Capt, Henry Evelyn Pitfield Sturt – in 1824, the Doris 42, Capt. Sir John Gordon Sinclair, in which frigate he returned to South America and, in 1827, as Acting-Lieutenant, the Volage 28, Capts. Robt. Tait and Michael Seymour, also on the South American station. He came home in 1829 on board the latter ship, of which he had been confirmed a Lieutenant 3 March, 1828. His last appointment was to the Coast Guard, in which service he was employed from 1 May, 1838, until 1841.
Lieut. Gretton married, 9 Jan. 1834, Sarah, youngest daughter of the late Rev. Henry Peach, of Derby.