A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Parker, Walter Turner
PARKER. (Lieut., 1815. f-p., 12; h-p., 31.)
Walter Turner Parker was born 5 Feb. 1793. This officer entered the Navy, 2 Sept. 1804, as Third-cl. Vol., on board the Insolent gun-brig, Lieut.-Commander John Row Morris, under whom he was for three years actively employed, part of the time as Midshipman, on the Channel and Mediterranean stations. On his removal, in Aug. 1807, to the Desperate, another gun-brig, commanded in succession by Lieuts. John Price, Jas. Leach, Joshua Birks, Thos. Ellery, and Geo. Green, he was at first engaged in attendance on the Copenhagen expedition, and next in blockading the enemy’s ports and in destroying their trade on the coast of France; where, it appears, he took part in many hazardous cutting-out affairs, was on one occasion wounded in the head, and at times landed in charge of secret papers. After witnessing the operations in the Scheldt, whence he brought a gun-boat, No. 31, to England, Mr. Parker was received, in March, 1810, on board the Grampus 50, Capt. Wm. Hanwell. On his return home with convoy from China, whither he had also escorted the trade, he joined, in Nov. 1811, the Raven 16, Capt. Geo. Gustavus Lennock; in which vessel, on 3 July, 1812, we find him, in face of the enemy’s fleet at Flushing, and under the very guns of that enemy’s forts, assisting in a dashing attack made by her on 14 brigs (each armed with 3 or 4 long 24-pounders), three of which were driven on shore. In Dec. of the same year he was sent in charge of a prize to North Yarmouth; but the vessel on her passage taking fire, he was under the necessity of abandoning her, and of remaining in consequence exposed, until picked up, to several hours of intense hardship. He afterwards went back to the Raven, and continued in her until Sept. 1813. Becoming attached, in Feb. 1814, to the Diomede 50, armée en flûte, Capt. Chas. Montagu Fabian, he sailed in that ship for Quebec; from which place, in the ensuing June, he proceeded as a Volunteer to Lake Ontario, and there joined the Prince Regent 56, bearing the broad pendant of Sir Jas. Lucas Yeo, by whom he was in succession transferred to various vessels, and for a time entrusted with the command of a gun-boat. On his arrival home in a transport in Dec. 1815, he was promoted for his services to the rank of Lieutenant by a commission bearing date 17 of the preceding March. His last appointment was, 31 Jan. 1833, to the Coast Guard, in which he remained nearly two years.
Lieut. Parker married, 3 Oct. 1819, Rachel, daughter of Wm. Smith, Esq., of Wickford Hall, co. Essex, by whom he has issue three children. Agents – Messrs. Chard.