A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Stratford, William Samuel
STRATFORD, F.R.S. (Lieut., 1815. f-p., 7; h-p., 34.)
William Samuel Stratford entered the Navy 10 Feb. 1806, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Pompée 74, Capt. Rich. Dacres; and while in that ship, which bore the flags successively of Admirals Sir Wm. Sidney Smith and Henry Edwin Stanhope, he co-operated in the defence of Gaeta and the reduction of Capri, accompanied the expedition to the Dardanells, assisted at the destruction of a Turkish squadron off Point Pesquies, and was present as Midshipman in the attack upon Copenhagen. After serving for a few weeks with Capt. John Serrell in the Victory 104, at Chatham, he rejoined Sir W. S. Smith, in March, 1808, on board the Foudroyant 80, and sailed for the coast of Brazil. On his return home in May, 1809, he was nominated Master’s Mate of the Puissant 74, Capt. Hall, lying at Spithead; he served next, in that capacity, from 15 April, 1810, until 12 March, 1812, in the Theseus 74, Capt. Wm. Prowse, in the North Sea; and on 14 March, 1815, he was advanced to the rank of Lieutenant. He has since been on half-pay.
Since 22 April, 1831, Lieut. Stratford, who is a Fellow of the Royal Society, has been Superintendent of the Nautical Almanac. He published, in 1831, ‘An Index to the Stars in the Catalogue of the Royal Astronomical Society;’ and in 1838 a volume ‘On the Elements of the Orbit of Halley’s Comet.’ He is married and has issue.