A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Parsons, Robert White
PARSONS. (Captain, 1828. f-p., 21; h-p., 29.)
Robert White Parsons entered the Navy, in the summer of 1797, as Midshipman, on board the Marlborough 74, Capts. Joseph Ellison and Thos. Sotheby. In Jan. 1801, after having been for three years and a half employed, part of the time as Midshipman, on the Channel and Mediterranean stations, he joined the Topaze frigate, Capts. Stephen G. Church and Robt. Honyman, attached to the force in the West Indies. Removing with Capt. Honyman, in Dec. 1802, to the Leda 38, he served in that vessel during 18 months in the North Sea and off Boulogne. He then sailed in the Culloden 74, flag-ship of Sir Edw. Pellew, for the East Indies; where he was nominated, 20 March, 1805, Acting-Lieutenant of the Victor sloop, Capts. Geo. Bell, Wm. Wells, and Thos. Groube. While in the latter vessel, to which he was confirmed 11 April, 1806, he fought in an action with a body of Malay pirates, and, we believe, contributed to the annihilation, in Dec. 1807, of the dockyard and stores at Griessee, in the island of Java, and of all the naval force remaining to Holland in the East Indies. His appointments, after he left the Victor, were – 9 Aug. 1808, to the Terpsichore frigate, Capt. Jas. Murray Gordon, also on the Indian station – 6 Nov. 1809, to the Dannemark 74, Capt. Jas. Bissett, in the West Indies – 27 Dec. 1810, to the Diana 38, Capts. Chas. Grant and Wm. Ferris, employed in the Channel and off the coast of France – 12 Oct. 1812, after six months of half-pay, to the Armada 74, Capt. Chas. Grant, attached to the force in the Mediterranean, whence he returned in Sept. 1814 – and, 25 March, 1815, to the Boyne 98, bearing the flag of Lord Exmouth on the same station. On 25 Aug. 1811, being then in the Diana under Capt. Ferris, he headed the boarders of that ship, and was mentioned for the great assistance he afforded his Captain, at the capture, in the mouth of the River Gironde, of the (lately British) gun-brig Teazer, mounting 12 18-pounder carronades and 2 long 18- pounders, with 85 men.[1] In Dec. 1813 Mr. Parsons, while serving in the Armada, commanded the boats of that ship in the unsuccessful attempt made by Sir Josias Rowley to obtain possession of Leghorn.[2] Attaining the rank of Commander 7 Nov. 1816, he served in that capacity, from 2 July, 1825, until posted 11 Nov. 1828, on board the Dispatch 18, on the Irish station, where he captured a smuggling lugger, under French colours, with 400 bales of tobacco on board. He has since been on half-pay.
Capt. Parsons married, 28 Sept. 1829, Frances, daughter of the late Fras. Adams, Esq., of Norton Malreward and Stookwood House, Somerset.