A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Neame, William
NEAME. (Commander, 1832. f-p., 45; h-p., 3.)
William Neame entered the Navy, in 1799, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Steady gun-brig; in which vessel, commanded by a Lieutenant, he served in the North Sea and West Indies until 1802 – the last two years in the capacity of Midshipman. Be then successively joined the Hornet sloop, Capt. John Nash, and Excellent 74, Capts. Hon. Robt. Stopford and J. Nash; and next, in 1803, the Spencer 74, Capt. Hon. B. Stopford. For his conduct (on his return from the Mediterranean to the West Indies) in the action off St. Domingo 6 Feb. 1806, on which occasion he was slightly wounded,[1] he was immediately nominated Acting-Lieutenant of the Canopus 80, flag-ship of Rear-Admirals Sir Thos. Louis and Geo Martin. Under the former of those officers he assisted, in 1806-7, at the capture of the French frigate Le Président, and was present in the expeditions to the Dardanells and Egypt. His promotion being confirmed by commission dated 28 June, 1808, he subsequently, 22 Nov. 1809 and 6 March, 1814, became Senior of the Scout 18, Capts. Alex. Renton Sharpe, Benj. Crispin, and Jas. Arthur Murray, and Hyacinth 24, Capt. A. B. Sharpe, on the Mediterranean and Home stations. In the Scout he was again (severely) wounded, while contributing, in company with the Pomone 38 and Unité 36, to the destruction, 1 May, 1811, of the French store-ships Giraffe and Nourrice, each mounting from 20 to 30 guns, and both protected by a 5-gun battery, a martello-tower, and a body of about 200 regular troops, in Sagone Bay, Island of Corsica; where the service was accomplished at the close of a gallant action of an hour and a half, attended with a loss to the British of 2 men killed and 25 wounded.[2] Having left the Hyacinth in Sept. 1815, he was appointed, 10 Jan. 1817, a Chief officer in the Water Guard. He removed, 28 Sept. 1818, to the command of a Revenue-vessel; and from 6 Sept. 1820 until awarded his present rank 4 April, 1832, he was employed as an Inspecting-Commander in the Coast Guard. He was re-appointed to the latter service as an Inspecting-Commander 18 March, 1834; and since 5 of the following Sept. has held in it the office of Deputy-Inspector-General.
The injuries received by Commander Neame during the war procured him gratuities from the Patriotic Fund. Agents – Messrs. Halford and Co.