A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Sterne, William
STERNE. (Lieut., 1813. f-p., 32; h-p., 11.)
William Sterne entered the Navy,- 7 March, 1804, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Leda 38, Capt. Robt. Honyman. Continuing in that frigate until wrecked at the entrance of Milford Haven 31 Jan. 1808, he was present as Midshipman at the reduction of the Cape of Good Hope (where he witnessed the surrender of the Rolla brig and Voluntaire frigate); likewise in all the operations in the Rio de la Plata which preceded the evacuation of Spanish America; and in the attack made by Admiral Gambier upon Copenhagen. On 9 Sept. 1805 he assisted as Midshipman at the destruction of an armed brig off Monte Video.[1] Being nominated, in Oct. 1808, Master’s Mate of the Proselyte bomb, Capt. Henry Jas. Lyford, he was again, in that vessel, wrecked, 5 Jan. 1809, by the ice in the neighbourhood of Anholdt, which island he succeeded, with the rest of the officers and ship’s company, in reaching, after a most severe and hazardous walk of eight miles. He remained at Anholdt until relieved, six weeks later, by the Ranger sloop, Capt. Geo. Acklom, under whom we find him, during the next three years, employed in the Baltic. From 6 May, 1813, until 30 Sept. 1814, he served as Acting-Lieutenant and Lieutenant (commission dated 23 Aug. in the former year) in the Semiramis 36, at the Cape of Good Hope; and since 11 Oct. 1823 he has filled the appointment of Inspecting Commander in the Coast Guard.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1807, p. 326.