A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Richie, William
RICHIE. (Lieut., 1815. f-p., 13; h-p., 35.)
William Richie entered the Navy, 6 July, 1799, as L.M., on board the Ruby 64, Capts. Alan Hyde Gardner and Solomon Ferris, in which ship and in the Zealous 74, Capt. Sam. Hood Linzee, he was employed, until July, 1802, on the Channel, African, North Sea, Baltic, Cadiz, and West India stations. In May, 1807, after having served for about 15 months at Plymouth and at the Brazils and Cape of Good Hope in the Belleisle 74, Capt. Wm. Hargood, and, as Midshipman, in the Sampson 64, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Chas. Stirling, he joined the Excellent 74, Capts. John West and Edw. Griffith. While on the books of that ship he saw much gun-boat service in the Straits of Gibraltar, was employed on shore at the defence of the fortress of Rosas, on the coast of Spain, in Nov. 1808, and in the following year contributed to the destruction of several of the enemy’s gun-vessels in the Adriatic. Removing, in April, 1810, to the Franchise 36, commanded for some time by Capt. Rich. Buck, he made a voyage to Greenland, and on his return was sent to co-operate with the patriots on the coast of Catalonia. From Dec. 1811 until Aug. 1814 he served in the Channel and Mediterranean, as Master’s Mate, on board the Royal Sovereign 100, Capts. Wm. Bedford, Jas. Bissett, Thos. Gordon Caulfeild, Chas. Thurlow Smith, and Robt. Lambert. He then joined the Vengeur 74, Capt. Tristram Robt. Ricketts, under whom he accompanied the expedition against New Orleans and assisted at the reduction of Fort Bowyer. On leaving the Vengeur in Aug. 1815 he took up a commission bearing date 11 Feb. in that year. He has since been on half-pay. Agents – Burnett and Holmes.