A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Speck, William
SPECK. (Commander, 1843. f-p., 29; h-p., 18.)
William Speck (whose name had been borne from 1787 until 1789 on the books of the Barfleur 90, Capt. Robt. Calder) embarked, 4 May, 1800, as A.B., on board the Mercury 28, Capt. Thos. Rogers, with whom he served in the Mediterranean until April, 1802 – the latter part of the time as Master’s Mate and Midshipman. In the following Sept. he became Second-Master of the Censor, Lieut.-Commander Arthur Aitchison, stationed in the North Sea; and from June, 1803, until Oct. 1808 he served, chiefly in the capacity of Master’s Mate, in the Britannia 100, Capt., afterwards Rear-Admiral the Earl of Northesk, Royal George 100, flag-ship of Sir John Thos. Duckworth (under whom he passed the Dardanells), and Neptune 98, Capt. Sir Thos. Williams. He was then nominated Acting-Lieutenant of the Belleisle 74, Capts. Edw. Woolcombe, Wm. Chas. Fahie, and Edw. Pelham Brenton; and while in that ship, to which he was confirmed 28 Feb. 1809, he assisted at the reduction of Martinique, and commanded a party of seamen on shore in the attack upon Flushing. From Oct. 1809 until Aug. 1814 he was actively employed in the Channel in the Scylla of 18 guns (16 32-pounder carronades and 2 6’s), Capts. Arthur Aitchison, Colin Macdonald, and Geo. Bennett Allen; under the first mentioned of whom he assisted, as Senior Lieutenant, 8 May, 1811, and was mentioned for his conduct, in boarding and carrying (after a running fight of some length, a loss to the British of 2 killed and 2 wounded, and to the enemy of 6 killed and 16 wounded) the French gun-brig Canonnière of 10 long 4-pounders, 1 24.pounder carronade, 4 swivels, and 77 men.[1] Under Capt. Macdonald, he was present, 21 Oct. 1813, in company with the Royalist 18, in a spirited action which lasted one hour and 40 minutes, and terminated in the surrender, on the approach of the Rippon 74, of the French frigate Le Weser, of 40 guns and 340 men, at the time under jury main and mizen masts.[2] From 9 Nov. 1831 until promoted to the rank of Commander, 11 Jan. 1843, Mr. Speck had charge of a station in the Coast Guard. He had previously commanded for three years the Shamrock Revenue-vessel.