A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Symonds, William Ley
SYMONDS. (Retired Commander, 1847. f-p., 11; h-p., 43.)
William Ley Symonds entered the Navy, in 1793, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Theseus 74, Capt. Robt. Calder; and from 1795 until promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, 6 Oct. 1801, was employed, part of the time as Midshipman and Master’s Mate, in the Lively frigate, Capts. R. Calder and Lord Viscount Garlics, flag-ship at first of Sir John Jervis, Raven sloop, Capt. Wm. Prowse, Mahonesa 40, Capt. John Giffard, Alcmène frigate, Capts. Geo. Hope and Henry Digby, Elephant 74, Capt. Thos. Foley, and Prince of Wales 98, bearing the flag of Sir R. Calder. In the ships above mentioned he served on the Home, Mediterranean, and West India stations. His last appointments were, 13 May, 1805, to the Humber hired armed ship, Capt. John Hill, under whom he was for about two years stationed in the Downs; and, 17 April, 1809, for a short time, to the Diligence sloop, Capt. Rich. Smith, in the Baltic. He became a Retired Commander on the Junior List in May, 1832; and, on the Senior, in May, 1847.