A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Morris, William (a)
MORRIS. (Commander, 1841. f-p., 20; h-p., 22.)
William Morris (a), born in Oct. 1792, is son of the late Capt. Robt. Morris, who represented the city of Gloucester in four successive Parliaments, from 1805 to 1817, and who, at a time when the country was menaced with invasion, raised and for many years supported at his own expense a corps of yeomanry cavalry.
This officer entered the Navy, 4 Nov. 1805, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Kent 74, Capts. Henry Garrett and Thos. Rogers, in which ship, employed in the Channel and off Lisbon, he assisted at the capture, 28 July, 1806, of the French frigate Le Rhin of 44 guns. From Nov. in the latter year until Jan. 1812 he served in the Mediterranean, chiefly at the blockade of Toulon, in the Royal Sovereign 100, Capts. David Colby, Abel Ferris, Henry Whitmarsh Pearse, Joseph Spear, John Harvey, and Wm. Bedford. On his arrival in the East Indies in the Volage 26, Capt. Hon. Donald Hugh Mackay, he was received, in Sept. 1812, on board the Illustrious 74, bearing the flag of Sir Sam. Hood, who, on 12 Jan. 1813, nominated him Acting-Lieutenant of the Arrogant sheer-hulk at Bombay, Capt. Chas. Biddulph. Accompanying the latter officer in a similar capacity, shortly afterwards, into the Hesper sloop, he accompanied an expedition against the pirates of Ras-al-Khyma in the Persian Gulf. He was confirmed a Lieutenant while serving, still in the East Indies, in the Cornwallis armée en flûte Capt. Stephen Thos. Digby, 24 Aug. 1813; and he was subsequently appointed – in Dec. 1814, to the Clorinde 40, Capt. Sam. Geo. Pechell, employed in the Mediterranean in attendance upon her late Majesty Queen Caroline until the summer of 1816[1] – 1 July and 28 March, 1822, to the Bulwark and Gloucester 74’s, flag-ships of Sir Benj. Hallowell at the Nore – 11 March, 1823, to the Genoa 74, Capts. Wm. Cumberland and Walter Bathurst, during his attachment to which ship he had command for some time of the Raymond tender, and was afforded an opportunity of sharing in the battle of Navarin, 20 Oct. 1827 – and, 8 Jan. 1838, to the command of the Partridge brig of 10 guns. In the latter vessel he was at first employed in protecting the fisheries on the coast of Scotland; he then proceeded to the coast of Africa with presents for King Trassar; and, when afterwards on the Brazilian station, he effected the capture of two slave-vessels, the Asseisceira. and San Antonio. He continued in the Partridge until promoted to his present rank, 23 Nov. 1841; and has since been on half-pay. Agents – Messrs. Halford and Co.
- ↑ Lieut. Morris was subpoenaed on the trial of that unfortunate Princess in the House of Lords.