A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Pearse, William
PEARSE. (Lieutenant, 1833.)
William Pearse entered the Navy, 28 Feb. 1815, as Midshipman, on board the Abundance store-ship. Master Commander Josiah Oake, with whom he visited North America, the West Indies, and Mediterranean. Between 1817 and 1824 we find him serving, the last two years as a passed Midshipman, in the Prévoyante 10, Master Commander Stokes, Hyperion 42, Capt. Thos. Searle, and Valorous 26, Capt. Jas. Murray, on the Home, North and South American, and West India stations. He then became in succession attached, in the capacity of Mate, to the Eden 26, Capt. John Lawrence, and Hussar 46 and Barham 50, flag-ships of Sir Chas. Ogle and Hon. Chas. Elphinstone Fleeming. In the Eden he made a second voyage to the Mediterranean; and in the Hussar and Barham he was again employed in North America and the West Indies. After serving for a short time in the Speedwell schooner, he was nominated, in 1830, Acting First-Lieutenant of the Victor 18, Capt. Rich. Keane. On the paying-oif of that sloop in 1831, his promotion not being confirmed, he was appointed Mate of the San Josef 110, flag-ship of Sir Manley Dixon at Plymouth; where he remained until presented by Sir Jas. Graham with a commission bearing date 30 July, 1833, as “a reward for long services and good conduct, and, especially, for the zeal and exertions he had displayed on the occasion of a recent fire on board the San Josef.” His last appointment was, 26 Feb. 1834, to the Racehorse 18, Capt. Sir Jaa. Everard Home, in which vessel he remained until 1836, when he was compelled to invalid in consequence of an injury he had received while engaged in the boats in suppressing an insurrection at Para on the coast of Brazil.