A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Hoste, William Legge George
HOSTE, Bart. (Commander, 1843. f-p., 14; h-p., 3.)
Sir William Legge George Hoste, born 19 March, 1818, is son of that distinguished officer, the late Capt. Sir Wm. Hoste, Bart., K.C.B.,[1] by Harriet, third daughter of Horatio, second Earl of Orford; and nephew of Sir Geo. Chas. Hoste, C.B., Colonel of the Royal Engineers.
This officer entered the Navy, 1 Aug. 1830, as a Volunteer, on board the Briton 46, Capt. John Duff Markland, employed on the Home station; became Midshipman, in Feb. 1833, of the Victory 104, Capt. Edw. Rich. Williams, guard-ship at Portsmouth; and proceeded soon afterwards to South America, in the Conway 28, Capt. Henry Eden. Between March, 1834, and his promotion to the rank of Lieutenant 27 June, 1838, we find him employed in the Mediterranean, the last 15 months as Mate, on board the Thunderer 84, Capt. Wm. Furlong Wise, Asia 84, Capt. Wm. Fisher, and Princess Charlotte 104, bearing the flag of Hon. Sir Robt. Stopford. Being then, however, reappointed to the latter ship, he continued attached to her, on the same station, until Nov. 1839. He subsequently, from 12 April, 1841, until paid off in Dec. 1842, served in the Southampton 50, under the flag of Sir Edw. Durnford King, Commander-in-Chief at the Cape of Good Hope and Brazils, and assisted during that period in taking possession of Port Natal. Being next, on 1 July, 1843, appointed to the Victoria and Albert yacht, Capt. Lord Adolphus FitzClarence, Sir Wm. Hoste was present in the ensuing Sept. at the meeting which took place at Treport between the Sovereigns of France and England. He was advanced to his present rank, at the request of H.R.H. Prince Albert, 5 Nov. 1843; and, since 17 Dec. 1845, has been in successive command of the Ringdove and Spiteful steam-sloops, on the East India station.
Sir Wm. Hoste received in 1845 the appointment of Gentleman Usher to the Queen Dowager.
- ↑ Sir Wm. Hoste entered the Navy at the commencement of the French revolutionary war, was with Nelson at Teneriffe in 1797. and attained Post-rank in 1802. On 13 March, 1811, being at the time in the Amphion 32, and in command (including that ship) of four frigates, carrying, in the whole, 156 guns and 879 men, he effected the brilliant defeat, after a battle of six hours, and a loss to the Amphion of 15 killed and 47 wounded, of a Franco-Venetian armament, whose force amounted to 284 guns and 2655 men. When in the Bacchante, in 1813, he commanded the Naval force employed at the reduction of the important fortresses of Cattaro and Ragusa. For the above and other dashing services, Capt. Hoste was raised to the dignity of a Baronet in 1814. In the same year he obtained an honourable augmentation to the family arms; and in 1815 he was nominated a K.C.B. In consideration of his services at Cattaro and Ragusa, the Emperor of Austria also conferred on him the insignia of a K.M.T. He died Dec. 1828.