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A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Moubray, William Hobson

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1846662A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Moubray, William HobsonWilliam Richard O'Byrne

MOUBRAY. (Lieut., 1843. f-p., 14; h-p., 2.)

William Hobson Moubray, born 28 Aug. 1818, is third son (by Laura, fourth daughter of Wm. Hobson, Esq., of Markfield, co. Middlesex) of Sir Robt. Moubray, Kt., K.H., of Cockaidnie, co. Fife, a Deputy-Lieutenant and Magistrate for that shire, and a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Army, who was for 10 years employed in India, and for eight in the Mediterranean, where, as Captain in the 80th Regt. of Foot, he served in Egypt under Sir Ralph Abercromby. His eldest brother, Robert, is a Captain in the Fifeshire Militia; his second, Richard, a Captain in the 1st Madras Light Cavalry, died 20 April, 1843; and his youngest, Edward, is now a Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery. Lieut. Moubray, a descendant of the family of William the Conqueror, is nephew of the late Vice-Admiral Sir Rich. Hussey Hussey, K.C.B., G.C.M.G.,[1] who assumed the name of Hussey by sign-manual on inheriting the estates of his cousin Admiral Sir Rich. Hussey Bickerton, Bart., K.C.B.

This officer entered the Navy, 18 April, 1831, on board the Barham 50, Capt. Hugh Pigot, fitting for the Mediterranean, where he was present at the restoration of Athens and the Negropont to the Greeks. After a servitude of three years in South America in the North Star 28, Capt. Octavius Vernon Harcourt, and Harrier 18, Capt. Wm. Henry Hallowell Carew, he became Mate, about Jan. 1838, of the Hastings 72, Capts. Fras. Erskine Loch and John Lawrence. In that ship he escorted the Earl of Durham to Quebec and Her Majesty the Queen Dowager to and from the Mediterranean, besides assisting, in 1840, in the attack upon Beyrout. He subsequently joined the Dublin 50, fitting at Portsmouth for the flag of Keai-Admiral Rich. Thomas, and the Caledonia 120, flag-ship of Sir David Milne at Devonport; and on 16 Feb. 1843 he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. His succeeding appointments were – 9 Nov. 1843, to the Vestal 26, Capt. Chas. Talbot, equipping at Sheerness – 13 Jan. 1844, to the Albion 90, Capt. Nicholas Lockyer, employed as an experimental ship – and, 7 Nov. 1845, to the St. Vincent 120, flag-ship of Sir Chas. Ogle at Portsmouth, and of Sir Fras. Augustus Collier in the Channel. He has been on half-pay since the close of 1846.

Lieut. Moubray married, 16 Dec. 1846, Selina Mary Anna, daughter of J. B. Hooper, Esq., of Abbots Kipton Hall, Huntingdonshire, late M.P. and High-Sheriff for that co. Agents – Hallett and Robinson.


  1. Sir Rich, Hussey Hussey was born 16 Mar. 1776; and embarked, in 1789, on board the Impregnable 98. He served in the Europa 50, Commodore Ford, at the capture, in Sept. 1793, of Jeremie and St. Nicholas Mole, St. Domingo; and, being shortly afterwards promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, was present as First of the same ship at the reduction of Port-au-Prince. He was advanced, in June, 1794, to the command of the Fly sloop, in which vessel he assisted at the detention of five Dutch men-of-war, and of a large convoy in Plymouth Sound, 19 Jan. 1795. He attained Post-rank 10 April, 1797; and after serving as a volunteer under Capt. Sir R, Bickerton on board the Ramillies and Terrible 74’s, was appointed to the successive command, between 1801 and 1814, of the Maidstone and Active frigates, and Montagu and Repulse 74’s. During the whole of that period (thirteen years) he was never absent from his duty for a single day, even on leave. In the Active he passed the Dardanells with Sir John Duckworth in Feb. 1807; and in the Montagu he played an important part at the reduction of Sta. Maura in March, 1810. He was created a C.B. in June, 1815; a Rear-Admiral in July, 1821; a K.C.B. in April, 1833; and a G.C.M.G. and a Vice-Admiral in 1837. He died a Vice-Admiral of the Red 6 Nov. 1642.