A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Larke, William
LARKE. (Retired Commander, 1834. f-p., 18; h-p., 33.)
William Larke entered the Navy, 10 Jan. 1796, as A.B., on board the Hebe 38, Capt. Matt. Henry Scott, and sailed for the West Indies, where, in the course of the same year, he assisted, as Midshipman, at the re-conquest of Ste. Lucie, and the suppression of an insurrection in the islands of St. Vincent and Grenada. On his return to Europe, in the following Nov., he joined the Prince George 98, successive flag-ship of Admirals Wm. Parker and Sir Chas. Thompson, under the former of whom he took part in the action off Cape St. Vincent 14 Feb. 1797. After a servitude of four years with Earl St. Vincent and Hon. Wm. Cornwallis, as Master’s Mate, in the Ville de Paris 110, and of two months with Capt. JohnWm. Spranger, as a Supernumerary, in the Aeolus, on the Mediterranean, Channel, and West India stations, Mr. Larke was nominated, 2 March, 1802, Acting-Lieutenant of the Brunswick 74, Capt. Geo. Hopewell Stephens. He was officially promoted 1 July following, and, in May, 1804, after an intermediate employment, for short periods, in the Magnificent 74, Capt. Wm. Henry Jervis, and in the Sea Fencibles at Cromer, in Norfolk, he was invested with the Governorship of the R.N. Hospital at North Yarmouth, where he continued until 30 Sept. 1814. He accepted his present rank 7 July, 1834.