A Naval Biographical Dictionary/O'Callaghan, George William Douglas
O’CALLAGHAN. (Captain, 1846. f-p., 16; h-p., 6.)
George William Douglas O’Callaghan was born 15 Aug. 1811.
This officer entered the Navy, 28 May, 1825, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Camelion 10, Capts. Geo. Robt. Lambert and Mich. Seymour, stationed in the Channel. In July, 1826, he became Midshipman of the Ramillies 74, Capt. Hugh Pigot, lying in the Downs for the purposes of the Coast Blockade; and he was next, from Feb. 1827 until July, 1831, employed in the West Indies in the Barham 50, flag-ship of Hon. Chas. Elphinstone Fleeming, Druid 46, Capt. Williams Sandom, Grasshopper 18, Capt. Chas. Deare, and Mersey 26, Capt. Geo. Wm. Conway Courtenay. Prior to his examination, which he passed 8 Sept. 1831, he served for a short period also in the Isis 50, Capt. Geo. Rennie. In the early part of 1831 he sailed for the East Indies as Mate of the Harrier 18, Capt. Spencer Lambert Hunter Vassall; in command of one of the boats belonging to which vessel we find him on two occasions engaged in attacks upon the Malay pirates. Being advanced to the rank of Lieutenant 6 June, 1834, and appointed, a few months afterwards, to the Andromache 28, Capt. Henry Ducie Chads, also on the East India station, he was slightly wounded, while in that frigate, in endeavouring to effect the suppression of piracy in the straits of Malacca, and for his services was presented, in common with the other officers employed, with a sword by the merchants, &c., of Bombay, besides receiving the thanks of the Admiralty and of the Chambers of Commerce at Calcutta and Madras. He returned to England in Sept. 1837; and was afterwards appointed, on the Mediterranean station – 24 April, 1838, to the Talbot 28, Capt. Henry John Codrington – 25 Oct. following, to the Asia 84, Capt. Wm. Fisher – 29 Jan. 1839, as First, to the Rhadamanthus steamer, Capt. Arth. Wakefield, which vessel he left in July, 1840 – and in June, 1841, in a similar capacity, to the Implacable 74, Capt. Edw, Harvey. He obtained a second promotal commission 11 Aug. 1841; and from 22 March, 1845, until advanced to his present rank, 30 Nov. 1846, had command of the Vesuvius steam-sloop of 280 horse power on the North America and West India station. He has since been on half-pay.
Capt. O’Callaghan married, 25 Aug, 1840, Miss Harriet Graves Barton, and by that lady has issue. Agents – Messrs. Halford and Co.