A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Samwell, William (a)
SAMWELL. (Retired Commander, 1833. h-p., 19; h-p., 50.)
William Samwell died 22 Dec. 1846, aged 80. He was brother of the present Retired Commander Peter Samwell, R.N.
This officer entered the Navy, in Nov. 1777, as Captain’s Servant, on board the Shrewsbury, Capt. L. Ross, stationed in the Channel, where he served until Dec. 1779. He was next in succession employed, chiefly in the capacity of Midshipman and Master’s Mate – from 10 April, 1782, until 20 July, 1783, in the Jason frigate, Capt. Jas. Pigott, on the coast of America – from 27 March until 1 Nov. 1787, in the Helena sloop, Capt. Benj. Hulk, off Milford – from 18 Oct. 1789 until 8 May, 1793, in a cutter, commanded at Plymouth and in the Mediterranean by Lieuts. Humphrey West and Rich. Bagot – and from the latter date until nominated, 28 Jan. 1795, Acting-Lieutenant of the Caesar 80, Capt. Chas. Edm. Nugent, in the Montagu 74, Capt. Jas. Montagu, and Queen Charlotte 100, bearing the flag of Earl Howe. In the Montagu he fought in the action of 1 June, 1794. He was confirmed a Lieutenant, 17 March, 1795, in the Boston 32, Capts. Jas. Nicll Morris, Jas. Irwin, and John Erskine Douglas, under whom he served for about three years on the Home and Baltic stations; and he was subsequently appointed – 8 July, 1799, for a few weeks, to the Sensible 36, Capt. Robt. Sauce, lying at Portsmouth – 19 Jan. 1800, to the Europa 50, Capt. Stevenson, which ship his health obliged him to leave in the following April – and, 29 Sept. 1804, to the Sea Fencibles at Penzance, where he remained until the corps was disbanded in Feb. 1810.
He was placed upon the Junior List of Retired Commanders 26 Nov. 1830; and on the Senior 23 March, 1833. Commander Samwell has left a son in the service, the present Lieut. Wm. Samwell.