A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Radcliffe, William
RADCLIFFE. (Commander, 1830. f-p., 19; h-p., 19)
William Radcliffe was born 27 Dec. 1796. His father, Thomas Radcliffe, was an officer in the Royal Dockyard at Portsmouth.
This officer entered the Navy, 17 June, 1809, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Endymion 40, Capt. Hon. Thos. Bladen Capel, employed in cruizing among the Western Islands and on the north coast of Ireland. Quitting her in Oct. 1810, he served during the next 12 months as a Supernumerary in the Revenge 74, Capt. John Nash, and Royal George 100, bearing the flag off L’Orient of Sir Thos. Williams. In the Revenge he was stationed off Cherbourg, and assisted in conveying a body of troops to Lisbon. In Oct. 1811, he again joined Capt. Capel on board La Hogue 74; in which ship he continued for two years off Brest and Flushing and on the North American station. While in her and in charge, as Midshipman, of a prize, he was captured, but was retaken before entering an enemy’s port. After an attachment of 10 months to the Valiant 74, Capt. Zachary Mudge, on the Brazilian coast, he joined, in Aug. 1815, the Pique 36, Capt. Hon. Anthony Maitland, lying at Spithead. For his conduct in the Glasgow 50, also commanded by Capt. Maitland, at the battle of Algiers, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant 16 Sept. 1816. His succeeding appointments were – 3 Sept. 1818, to the Tyne 26, Capt. Gordon Thos. Falcon, on the South American station, whence he returned in Oct. 1820 – 6 Feb. 1822, to the Hind 20, Capts. Hon. Henry John Rous and Lord Henry John Spencer Churchill, fitting for the Mediterranean – 12 Sept. 1823, as First, to the Martin 20, Capt. Henry Eden, with whom he served, on the station last named, until Feb. 1825 – and 2 Jan. 1829, in a similar capacity, to the Undaunted 46, Capt. Augustus Wm. Jas. Clifford, employed on particular service. Attaining his present rank 22 July, 1830, he served in that capacity in the Coast Guard from 7 Sept. 1836 until 12 Nov. 1839, and since 3 March, 1845, has been actively employed in the Apollo troop-ship in all parts of the globe. When in the Rio de la Plata, and in company with the Eagle 50 and French war-steamer Gazendi, he landed the Apollo’s men, and, by throwing up a battery, contrived for several days to defend the east point of Maldonado against a strong detachment of Oribe’s army. His exertions in bringing the Apollo safely out of Waterloo Bay, Cape of Good Hope, with the 73rd Regt. on board, after she had lost all her anchors from the effects of tremendous rollers which had set in, have, we understand, been noted at the Admiralty.
Commander Radcliffe, during the earlier part of his career, was struck by lightning and supposed for some time to be dead: he also, while lying at St. Helena, fell from the cross-jack to the deck and was severely hurt; and on another occasion a block from aloft fell on his head. The effects of these accidents he still feels. He married, 11 May, 1840, Julia Pittis, daughter of the late W. Dore, Esq. Agents – Collier and Snee.