A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Newenham, William Persse
NEWENHAM. (Lieut., 1810. f-p., 18; h-p., 26.)
William Persse Newenham, born 8 Feb. 1790, is grandson of the late Sir Edw. Newenham, three years M.P. for co. Dublin His uncle fell in command of a fort at Toulon in 1793
This officer entered the Navy, 18 Feb. 1803, as Third-cl. Boy, under the patronage of Admiral Lord Hood, on board the Virginie 38, Cant John Poo Beresford; in which frigate and, as Midshipman in the Cleopatra of 38 guns and 200 men, Capt Sir Robt. Laurie, he was for some time employed in blockading the Dutch fleet in the Texel, and also in watching the invasion flotilla at Boulogne. On proceeding with intelligence of the war with Spain to Halifax, he was present in the latter ship when captured, 17 Feb. 1805, after a brilliant and self-sought action of nearly three hours, and a loss of 20 killed and 38 wounded, by La Ville de Milan, of 46 guns and 350 men, 10 of whom appear to have been slain. During the combat, although severely hurt by the wheel falling upon him, Mr. Newenham, on the ensign being shot away, ran aft and hoisted another at the mizen-top. He acted on the occasion as Aide-de-Camp to his Captain. On 23 of the same month the French ship, owing to the damage she had sustained, fell an easy capture, as did her prize, to the Leander 50, Capt. John Talbot; and being added to the British Navy as the 38-gun frigate Milan, was commissioned by Sir Robt. Laurie; under whom (with the exception of an interval in 1806 and Aug. 1807, partly spent in the Espiègle sloop, Capt. Henry Gage Morris, on the coast of Ireland) Mr. Newenham continued to serve, still on the Halifax station, until nominated, 16 June, 1810, Acting-Lieutenant of the Harpy sloop, Capts. Geo. Wm. Blamey, Edw. Henry A’Court, and Henderson Bain. In that vessel, to which he was confirmed 23 July following, he co-operated for a time with the British army in the Tagus, and then proceeded to India, where he served on shore as her Senior-Lieutenant with a party of seamen at the reduction of Java in Aug. 1811. In consequence of an attack of dysentery, there contracted, he was compelled in the ensuing Dec, a few months after his removal to the Lion 64, Capt. Henry Heathcote, to invalid home on board the Java 38, Capt. Scott. He arrived in England in March, 1812, and for four years was a martyr to the severity of his complaint. Although his health at the end of that period became re-established he did not succeed in obtaining further employment until 17 Aug. 1826, when, through the instrumentality of Sir Robt. Laurie, he was appointed to the Sussex Coast Blockade as Supernumerary-Lieutenant of the Hyperion 42, Capt. Wm. Jas. Mingaye, and was stationed at Hastings. Continuing in that service until it was broken up in 1831, he repeatedly performed the duties of Divisional-Lieutenant, and came into frequent and severe contact with armed bodies of smugglers, from whom, during the last year, he wrested two cutters and a fishing-lugger, with cargoes on board of the value of at least 2000l. His next appointment was, 6 Nov. 1837, to the Coast Guard, in which he remained until obliged in 1842 to resign, after having been thrice sent to Haslar Hospital, and been for 15 weeks supplied with private medical aid, from the effects of contusion of the brain and of two other accidents in the head received in the execution of his duty. He has been employed, since 6 Sept. 1845, as Admiralty-Agent on board a contract mail steam-vessel.
Lieut. Newenham married 7 March, 1826; and has issue a son and daughter. Agents – Case and Loudonsack.