A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Griffiths, William Nelson
GRIFFITHS. (Lieut., 1823. f-p., 10; h-p., 26.)
William Nelson Griffiths entered the Navy, 9 April, 1811, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Salvador del Mundo, Capt, Nash, lying at Plymouth. Between 13 May and 6 Nov, in the same year, he successively served, on the Mediterranean station, in the Caledonia 120, flag-ship of Sir Edw. Pellew, Fame 74, Capt. Walter Bathurst, Unité 36, Capt. Edwin Henry Chamberlayne, Cerberus 32, Capt. Henry Whitby, and Cambrian 40, Capt. Chas. Bullen. In April, 1812, he rejoined Capt. Whitby on board the Briton 38, at Chatham, whence he almost immediately sailed for North America, as Midshipman, in the Tenedos 38, Capt. Hyde Parker, under whom we find him, in Jan. 1815, witnessing the capture of the U.S. frigate President. From Oct. in the latter year until Feb. 1818, Mr. Griffiths, with the exception of a few months at Portsmouth, was employed, at Plymouth, on board the Ramillies 74, Malta 84, and Rivoli and Melville 74’s, Capts. Chas. Ogle, Aiskew Paffard Hollis, and Henry Chas. Pemberton. He then proceeded to the West Indies in the Drake sloop, Capt. Henry Shiffner; and was afterwards, during the years 1819-23, attached to Capt. Parry’s polar expeditions, in the Griper brig, Lieut.-Commander Matthew Liddon, and Hecla bomb, Capt. Geo. Fras. Lyon. Since the attainment of his present rank, 13 Nov. 1823, Lieut. Griffiths has been on half-pay.