A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Kelly, William (a)
KELLY. (Commander, 1811. f-p., 17; h-p., 38.)
William Kelly, born 27 Feb. 1782, is elder brother of Capt. B. M. Kelly, R.N.
This officer entered the Navy, in 1792, as Captain’s Servant, on board the St. George 98, commanded by his uncle, Capt. Wm. Hancock Kelly, with whom he continued to serve in the Windsor Castle 98, Solebay 32, and Veteran 64, until Sept. 1706 – the first two years as Midshipman. While in the Solebay we find him assisting at the reduction of the French West India Islands in 1794, where he was employed in the batteries as Aide-de-Camp to Lord Garlies, and to his uncle Capt. Kelly, at the siege of Fort Bourbon, and again on shore, as Aide-de-Camp to Capt. Lewis Robertson, who was killed at the storming of Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe. In March, 1798, after he had further served in the Royal Sovereign 100, and Ville de Paris 110, flag-ships of Sir Alan Gardner and Lord St. Vincent, he was nominated, by the latter nobleman, Acting-Lieutenant of the Hector 74, Capt. Peter Aplin, as a reward for his previous conduct at the destruction of a convoy of market-boats, together with their protectors, three gun-vessels, at the entrance of Cadiz Harbour. He was confirmed, 4 July, 1798, into the Incendiary fire-ship, Capts. Geo. Barker and Rich. Dalling Dunn, on the Mediterranean sttition, and during the latter portion of the war was there employed on board La Minerve 42, commanded by the present Sir Geo. Cockburn, at whose express desire he bad been appointed. Besides numerous boat and other affairs he was in consequence present at the capture and destruction, 2 Sept. 1801, of Le Succès of 32, and Le Bravoure of 42 guns; on which occasion, being at the time First-Lieutenant, his Captain reported his conduct in the handsomest manner.[1] His subsequent appointments were – 16 Dec. 1803, to the Montagu 74, Capt. Robt. Waller Otway, stationed in the Channel – 28 Oct. 1804, to the Prince 98, Capts, Rich. Grindll and Wm. Lechmere, of which ship, after participating in the battle of Trafalgar,[2] he became First-Lieutenant – 30 Dec. 1806, and 27 May, 1807, in the latter capacity, to the Dreadnought 98, Capt. Wm. Lechmere, and Ville de Paris 110, flag-ship of Lord Gardner – and, 8 Aug. 1808 and 14 May, 1811, to the Caledonia 120, and Royal George 100, bearing each the flag of Lord Gambier, to whom, subsequently to Lord Cochrane’s memorable achievement in Basque Roads, on which occasion he was intrusted with the command of the Caledonia’s boats, he became Signal-Lieutenant. He attained his present rank on Lord Gambier striking his flag, 23 Aug. 1811; and has since been on half-pay.
Commander Kelly is the only officer of his rank on the List of 1811.