A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Pierson, William Henry
PIERSON, Kt. (Captain, 1838. f-p., 22; h-p., 29.)
Sir William Henry Pierson was born in 1782. This officer entered the Navy, 27 May, 1796, as A.B., on board the Asia 64, Capt. Robt. Murray, bearing the flag of Admiral Vandeput, Commander-in-Chief in North America, where, in May, 1798, he attained the rating of Midshipman. In Dec. 1800 he removed to the Belleisle 72, Capts. Wm. Domett, Chas. Boyles, John Whitby, and Wm. Hargood; with the last-mentioned of whom, after cruizing with the Channel fleet, he proceeded to the Mediterranean, and next to the West Indies and back in pursuit of the combined squadrons of France and Spain. For his conduct as Master’s Mate in the action off Cape Trafalgar, 21 Oct. 1805, on which occasion he was wounded,[1] Mr. Pierson was promoted, 24 Dec. in that year, to a Lieutenancy in the Conqueror 74, Capts. Israel Pellew and Edw. Fellowes, employed both on the Home and Mediterranean stations; where, from April, 1810, until July, 1815, we find him in succession serving in the Northumberland 74, Capts. Wm. Hargood and Hon. Henry Hotham, Caledonia 120, flag-ship of Sir Edw. Pellew, Menelaus 38, Capt. Sir Peter Parker, Ville de Paris 110, and Boyne 98, each under the orders of Capt. Geo. Burlton, Fylla 22, Capt. Wm. Shepheard, and Amphion 32, Capt. Jas. Pattison Stewart. While First of the Fylla, he was slightly wounded, as was a marine, at the capture, 30 Jan. 1814, of the French lugger privateer L’Inconnu of 15 guns (pierced for 20) and 109 men, 5 of whom were killed and 4 wounded,[2] He was often during the above period engaged in cutting out the enemy’s vessels, and in co-operating with the patriots on the coast of Catalonia. Between 30 March, 1824, and 16 Aug. 1825, Lieut. Pierson served, as Senior, on board the Wellesley 74, Capt. Graham Eden Hamond, stationed at first as a guard-ship at Portsmouth, and engaged next in conveying the present Lord Stuart de Rothesay to the Brazils; whence, in Dec. 1825, he returned home with Capt. Hamond in the Spartiate 76. Attaining the rank of Commander 27 March, 1826, he did not again go afloat until appointed, 11 June, 1836, to the Madagascar 46, Capt. Sir John Strutt Peyton, fitting for the West Indies. In the following Oct., while lying, prior to her final departure, in Kingstown, Dublin, the Madagascar was visited by the Lord-Lieutenant, the Marquis of Normanby; and Capt. Pierson on the occasion received the honour of knighthood. He was advanced to his present rank 28 June, 1838 – two months after the ship had been paid off; and has not been since employed.
Sir W. H. Pierson married, in July, 1826, Jane, daughter of Edw. Daun, Esq., of Warblington, co. Hants, by whom he has issue two sons and one daughter.