A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Proctor, William Beauchamp
PROCTOR, Bart. (Rear-Admiral of the Red, 1841. f-p., 15; h-p., 38.)
Sir William Beauchamp Proctor, born 14 Oct. 1781, at Langley Park, Norfolk, is eldest son of the late Sir Thos. Beauchamp Proctor, Bart., by Mary, second daughter of Robt. Palmer, Esq., of Sunning, Berks, and brother (with the present Lieut.-Colonel Rich. Beauchamp Proctor) of Capt. Robt. Beauchamp Proctor, of the Madras Artillery, who died 23 May, 1813. His nephew, Edw. Halhed Beauchamp Proctor, is a Commander R.N. He succeeded his father as third Baronet 29 June, 1827.
This officer entered the Navy, 4 Sept. 1794, as A.B., on board the Stag 32, Capt. Jos. Sydney Yorke, and on 22 Aug. 1795 assisted as Midshipman at the capture, on the coast of Norway, of the Batavian frigate Alliance of 36 guns and 240 men, after an action of about an hour, in which the enemy sustained a loss of between 40 and 50 killed and wounded, and the British of 4 killed, and 13, including himself, wounded. He continued actively employed in the Stag, on the Home station, until Jan. 1798, and then joined the London 98, Capt. John Child Purvis, off Lisbon. In the following July he removed to the Flora frigate, Capt. Robt. Gambier Middleton, attached to the force in the Mediterranean, where, it appears, he was lent for short periods to the Alcmène and Minerve frigates, Capts. Henry Digby and Geo. Cockburn. Being received on promotion, in Aug. 1800, on board the Foudroyant 80, flag-ship of Lord Keith, he was nominated, 22 Oct. ensuing, Acting-Lieutenant of La Diane frigate, Capt. Thos. Stephenson. In that ship, to which the Admiralty confirmed him 25 Feb. 1801, he obtained the Turkish gold medal for his services in Egypt. He was advanced to the rank of Commander 29 April, 1802; and in April, 1803, and Aug. 1804, he was appointed in that capacity to the Zebra bomb and Saracen 18. In the former vessel he gained the admiration of his senior officer, Capt. Robt. Dudley Oliver, by his meritorious conduct at the bombardment of Havre in July and Aug. 1804.[1] After cruizing for six months in the Channel in the Saracen, Capt. Proctor, in March, 1805, sailed on promotion for the East Indies in the Hindostan 54, and on his arrival in the following July was placed in acting-command of the Dédaigneuse 36. Owing, however, to ministerial changes at home he was not confirmed to Post-rank until 5 Sept. 1806. In reference to a rencontre, on 21 Nov. 1808, hetween the Dédaigneuse and French 36-gun frigate Semillante, which terminated in the latter effecting her escape into Port Louis, Isle of France, Capt. Proctor, from a feeling of dissatisfaction entertained by the Commander-in-Chief at his conduct, applied for a court-martial. After the fullest investigation, that tribunal declared “that the conduct of Capt. Proctor appeared to have been marked by the greatest activity, zeal, and anxiety for the service; that the manoeuvres of the Dédaigneuse, while in the presence of the enemy, were directed with judgment and skill very honourable to Capt. Proctor; and that the escape of the enemy’s frigate resulted entirely from the bad-sailing of the Dédaigneuse.” Capt. Proctor was of course fully acquitted. He returned home for the recovery of his health in Nov. 1809, and has not been since afloat. He attained Flag-rank 23 Nov. 18il.
Sir Wm. Beauchamp Proctor married, 20 May, 1812, Anne, daughter of Thos. Gregory, Esq., and niece and heir of Thos. Brograve, Esq., of Springfield Place, Essex, by whom he has issue three sons (the eldest, Thomas William Brograve, an officer in the army) and four daughters. Agents – Messrs. Halford and Co.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1804, pp. 898, 938.