A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Savage, William
SAVAGE. (Commander, 1 830. f-p., 17; h-p., 34.)
William Savage entered the Navy, in Nov. 1796, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Agincourt 64, Capts. John Williamson and John Lawford; under the former ofwhom he enacted a Midshipman’s part in the battle off Camperdown 11 Oct. 1797. On his removal with Capt. Lawford to the Romney 50 he assisted, in the course of 1798, at the capture of a convoy of Swedish vessels, laden with naval and military stores for the use of France, and accompanied, in the autumn of 1799, the expedition to Holland. He subsequently proceeded in the same ship, under the command of Sir Home Popham, to the East Indies, and made a visit, during his sojourn on that station, to the Red Sea. While there and on shore in the neighbourhood of Mount Felix for the purpose of procuring a supply of water, his party, 11 in number, was suddenly attacked by a party of the natives, lying in ambush, who murdered all but himself and a Midshipman, the late Retired Commander John Manton. Being severely wounded in the head, his own life was only saved through the exertions of his companion, who forcibly dragged him into a boat, and succeeded in keeping the enemy at bay until they were both out of danger. On his return to England in May, 1803, he joined La Seine 36, Capt. David Milne; and on that ship being wrecked 21 July following off Schelling Island, in the North Sea, he was received on board the Excellent 74, Capt. Frank Sotheron, with whom he continued employed, on the Mediterranean station, until nominated, 5 May, 1806, Acting-Lieutenant of the Intrepid 64, Capt. Hon. Philip Wodehouse. He was confirmed 17 Sept. in the same year; and was subsequently appointed – 12 Feb. 1807, to the Formidable 98, Capt. Fras. Fayerman, also in the Mediterranean, where he remained for a further period of three years – 6 April, 1810, to the Audacious 74, Capt. Donald Campbell, attached to the force in the North Sea and off Lisbon – 21 Aug. 1811, to the Barbadoes 24, commanded in the West Indies by Capt. Edw. Rushworth and for a short time by himself as Acting-Captain – 6 July, 1812, to the Polyphemus 64, Capt. Peter John Douglas, on the same station – and, 26 Feb. 1813, after three months of half-pay, to the Centaur 74, Capt. John Chambers White, in the Channel. He invalided in May, 1814, and has not, we believe, been since afloat. He obtained a pension of 91l. 5s. per annum for wounds 1 July, 1815; and was advanced to the rank of Commander 31 Dec. 1830.