A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Reikie, William
REIKIE. (Retired Commander, 1844. f-p., 21; h-p., 33.)
William Reikie entered the Navy, in Jan. 1793, as Midshipman, on board the Expedition cutter, Lieut.-Commander Grosvenor Winkworth, lying in Leith Roads; and in the following May removed to the Bellerophon 74, Capt. (afterwards Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas) Pasley, under whom he fought in Lord Howe’s actions, 28 and 29 May and 1 June, 1794. In Dec. of the latter year he became Master’s Mate of the Ambuscade 32, and after serving for 18 months in that frigate and in the Glenmore 44, both commanded in the North Sea by Capt. Geo. Duff; joined, in the summer of 1796, the Cambrian 40, Capt. Hon. Arthur Kaye Legge, stationed on the coast of France; where, in Jan. 1800, he was placed in command, with the rank of Acting-Lieutenant, of the Telemachus cutter. He was confirmed, 8 March following, into the Voltigeur sloop, Capts. Thos. Geo. Shortland, Lennox Thompson, and Thos. Hill, employed, until April, 1802, at Newfoundland and off Cadiz; and was subsequently appointed – 1 Sept. 1803, to the Repulse 74, Capt. Hon. A. K. Legge, part of the force engaged in Sir Robt. Calder’s action 22 July, 1805 – 9 Aug. 1806, to the Canopus 80, Capt. T. G. Shortland, bearing the flag of Sir Thos. Louis, under whom he assisted we believe at the capture, 27 Sept. following, of Le Président French frigate, and in Feb. 1807 passed the Dardanells – 22 Dec. 1807, after eight months of half-pay, to the Texel 64, flag-ship of Rear-Admiral Jas. Vashon at Leith – and in May, 1808, to the Transport service, in which he continued employed on the coast of Portugal, in the Mediterranean, and at Cork, until Sept. 1815. He became a Retired Commander on the Junior List 31 Dec. 1830; and on the Senior 5 Nov. 1844.