A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Maclean, William
MACLEAN. (Captain, 1846. f-p., 16; h-p., 8.)
William Maclean is ninth son of Colonel Alex. Maclean, of Ardgour, by the Lady Margaret Hope, daughter of John, second Earl of Hopetoun, and grand-daughter of Alexander, fifth Earl of Leven and Melville. One of his brothers, Archibald, a Captain in the R.N. (1822), died in 1832.
This officer entered the Navy, early in 1823, as a Volunteer, on board the Briton 46, Capt. Sir Murray Maxwell, and sailed for South America, where, at home, and in India, he continued to serve as Midshipman in the same frigate, and in the Prince Regent 120, Capt. Constantine Rich. Moorsom, Thetis 46, Capt. Arthur Batt Bingham, Ranger 28, Capt. Lord Henry Fred. Thynne, and Prince Regent again and Southampton 52, flag-ships of Sir Henry Blackwood and Sir Edw. W. C. R. Owen, until promoted, 10 Feb. 1830, to a Lieutenancy in the Success 28, Capt. Wm. Clarke Jervoise, also on the East India station, whence he came home in Oct. 1831 in the Calcutta 84, Capt. Peter Fisher. His succeeding appointments were – 7 Nov. 1833, to the Blonde 46, Capt. Fras. Mason, fltting for South America – 5 April, 1836 (soon after his return to England), to the Britannia 120, flag-ship of Sir Philip Chas. Durham at Portsmouth, where he remained a period of three years – and, 27 Aug. 1841, to the Howe 120, as Flag-Lieutenant to Sir Fras. Mason in the Mediterranean. He attained the rank of Commander 23 Nov. following; served in that capacity, from 28 Sept. 1843 until Feb. 1845, on board the Apollo troop-ship; obtained command, 22 Dec. in the latter year, of the Cruizer 16, on the East India station; and acquired his present rank 9 Nov. 1846. He has since been on half-pay.
Capt. Maclean married, 30 Aug. 1838, Elizabeth, only daughter Of the late T. Melet Charter, Esq., of Lynchfield House, co. Somerset, and grand-daughter of the late Mrs. Freke Gunston, of Frethey Cottage, near Taunton, by whom he has issue. Agents – Hallett and Robinson.