A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Haswell, William Henry (a)
HASWELL. (Commander, 1830.)
William Henry Haswell is son of Mr. Haswell, R.N., who died suddenly, in the 77th year of his age, 5 Jan. 1831.
This officer entered the Navy, 1 Feb. 1800, as Ordinary, on board the Royal William, guardship at Spithead, and in the course of the following year was employed off Cadiz in the Dreadnought 98, Capt. Jas. Vashon. In Nov. 1802, after an employment of nearly 12 months, as Midshipman, in the Hydra 38, Capt. Hon. Chas. Paget, he joined the Phoebe 36, Capts. Hon. Thos. Bladen Capel and Jas. Oswald, under the former of whom it was his fortune to be present at the battle of Trafalgar, 21 Oct. 1805. Removing, in March, 1806, to the Endymion 40, Capts. Edw. Durnford King, and Hon. T. B. Capel, he accompanied the expedition of 1807 to the Dardanells, where, we believe, he was taken prisoner, and detained on board the Turkish Admiral’s ship until he had participated in two general actions with the Russian fleet, by which he was re-captured. He was ultimately, on 28 Feb. 1809, promoted to a Lieutenancy in the Impétueux 74, Capt. John Lawford, and, being shortly afterwards appointed to the Revenge 74, Capts. Hon. C. Paget and John Nash, was attached to the force sent against Flushing; during the operations connected with the siege of which place he appears to have had charge of an armed transport. We afterwards, until Aug. 1814, find him commanding the Landrail, and serving, again with Capt. Paget, on board the Superb 74, off the coasts of Ireland, France, and America. He obtained an appointment in the Coast Guard 1 Nov. 1820; the command of the Bramble 10 May, 1827; the rank he now holds 22 July, 1830; a three-years’ Inspectorship in the Coast Guard 20 March, 1832; and the command, 31 Oct. 1846, of the Poictiers 72, guard-ship at Chatham – an appointment he still enjoys.
Commander Haswell has been twice married – the second time, 9 Feb. 1839, to Frances Maria, third daughter of Lieut. Wm. Taylor, R.N. (1794), of Greenwich Hospital, who died in 1835. He has issue. Agents – Hallett and Robinson.