A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Molyneux, William
MOLYNEUX. (Commander, 1833. f-p., 16; h-p., 19.)
William Molyneux died 18 July, 1847. He was third son of the late Lieut.-General Sir Thos. Molyneux, Bart., by Elizabeth, daughter of Thos. Perrin, Esq.; and brother-in-law of Lord Wm. G. Henry Somerset.
This officer entered the Navy, 9 Aug. 1812, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Norge 74, Capts. John Sprat Rainier and Chas. Dashwood, under the latter of whom, on proceeding to North America, he served as Midshipman (a rating he had attained in Nov. 1812) in the expedition of 1814 against New Orleans. Joining, in Nov. 1815, the Lyra 10, Capt. Basil Hall, he accompanied Lord Amherst in the ensuing year in his embassy to China. He returned to England in Nov. 1817; and was next, between March, 1818, and Oct. 1821, employed on the Home and West India stations, in the Spencer 74, Capt. Wm. Robt. Broughton, Tonnant 80, and Windsor Castle 74, both commanded by Capt. Thos. Gordon Caulfeild, Raleigh 18, Capt. Wm. Augustus Baumgardt, Salisbury 50, flag-ship of Rear-Admiral Wm. Chas. Fahie, and Pyramus 42, Capt. Fras. Newcombe. He was then nominated Acting-Lieutenant of the Falmouth 20, Capt. Edw. Purcell; in which vessel (being confirmed to her by commission dated 21 Feb. 1822) he continued employed, still in the West Indies, until 11 July, 1823. His succeeding appointments were, on the Jamaica station – 15 May, 1824, to the Dartmouth 42, Capt. Hon. Jas. Ashley Maude – 7 Jan. and 9 March, 1826, to the Serapis and Magnificent convalescent and store-ships, Capts. Chas. ElUot, Jas. Cooper Bennett, and Geo. Mansel – 23 March, 1829, to the Barham 50, bearing the flag of Hon. Chas. Elphinstone Fleeming – and, 10 March, 1830, to the acting-command of the Fairy sloop. He returned to England in the following June; but was not officially promoted until 12 March, 1833. He did not again go afloat.