A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Grosett, Walter
GROSETT. (Rear-Admiral, 1846. f-p., 23; h-p., 45.)
Walter Grosett is uncle of John Rock Grosett, Esq., formerly M.P. for Chippenham.
This officer entered the Navy, in Nov. 1779, as Captain’s Servant, on board the Sandwich 90, Capt. Walter Young, bearing the flag of Sir Geo. Bridges Rodney. In Jan. 1780, while on his passage to the relief of Gibraltar, he assisted at the capture of a 64-gun ship in charge of a large convoy, and was also present in the action with Don Juan de Langara. In Sept. following, after having further participated in the three actions with M. de Guichen, off Martinique, he became Midshipman of the Boreas 32, Capt. John Rodney, whom he subsequently followed into the Sybil 28 (one of the repeating-frigates in the action of 12 April, 1782), and Anson 64. From 1784 until 1787 he was employed in the Thisbe 28, bearing the broad pendant on the North American station of Commodore Herbert Sawyer. Re-embarking early in 1794, as Master’s Mate, on board the Boyne 98, flag-ship in the West Indies of Sir John Jervis, he frequently distinguished himself while serving on shore with the army at the ensuing sieges of Martinique, Ste. Lucie, and Guadeloupe. He was promoted, on 25 Oct. in the same year, to a Lieutenancy in the Quebec 32, Capts. Josiah Rogers, Jas. Carpenter, and John Cooke, and next appointed, on the Lisbon, Mediterranean, and Channel stations, to the Success 32, Capt. Philip Wilkinson, Hector 64, Capt. Peter Aplin, Mahonesa 32, Capt. John Giffard, Centaur 74, Capt. John Markham, Ville de Paris 110, flagship of Earl St. Vincent and Hon. Wm. Cornwallis, and Queen Charlotte yacht, Capt. Sir Harry Burrard Neale. While in the Quebec, Mr. Grosett appears to have received the thanks of the President and Council of Granada for his able and gallant conduct in having landed with a detachment of 150 seamen and marines on that island, and materially contributed to its tranquillity and preservation; and on another occasion, 16 Feb. 1799, we find him, in command of the Centaur’s boats, destroying the guns of a battery near the Spanish town of Cambrelles, where he burnt five settees, and brought out a similar number.[1] Obtaining a second promotal commission 6 Oct. 1801, he was next appointed to the command – in Aug. 1802, of the Port Mahon brig, on the Guernsey station – and, 18 June, 1803, of the Trent 32, armée en flûte, successive flag-ship at Cork of Admiral Lord Gardner, Rear-Admiral Wm. O’Brien Drury, and Vice-Admirals Jas. Hawkins Whitshed and Edw. Thornbrough. He was posted from the latter vessel 21 Oct. 1810; and on 1 Oct. 1846 was advanced to his present rank. Rear-Admiral Grosett, on his supercession from the Trent, was presented with the freedom of the city of Cork, and the unanimous thanks of the Committee of Merchants for the great attention he had exhibited to their interests. His conduct, during the term of his previous servitude under Lord St. Vincent, so met the approval of that nobleman as to have obtained from him the gift of a medal. The Rear-Admiral is married and has issue. Agents – Messrs. Halford and Co.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1799, p. 288.