A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Symons, William Joseph
SYMONS. (Retired Commander, 1837. f-p., 16; h-p., 41.)
William Joseph Symons died 22 Jan. 1845. This officer entered the Navy, 19 Aug. 1788, as A.B., on board the Impregnable 98, Capt. Thos. Byard, bearing the flag of Admiral Graves at Plymouth. In Feb. 1789 he removed to the Echo sloop, Capt. Drew, stationed at Newfoundland; he served next as Midshipman from June, 1790, until Sept. 1791, in the Winchelsea 32, Capts. Hon. Chas. Carpenter and Rich. Fisher, and Roebuck 44, Capt. Jas. May, in the Channel and at Spithead; and from May, 1792, until Nov. 1801, he was employed on the coast of North America and in the North Sea in the Hussar 28, Capts. Rupert George, Chas. Rowley, and John Poo Beresford, Resolution 74, flag-ship of Vice-Admiral Robt. Murray, and Thisbe 28 and Assistance 50, Capts. John Okes Hardy, Robt. Hall, and Rich. Lee. He was nominated an Acting-Lieutenant of the Thisbe 26 Aug. 1795; and was confirmed to that ship 23 June, 1796. He was in her at the capture of the 36-gun frigate Elizabeth. In the Assistance he served for nearly three years and a half. His last appointments were – 2 May, 1804, for three months, to the Pheasant 18, Capt. Henry Carew, in the Channel – 20 March, 1806, to the Princess Royal 98, Capt. Robt. Carthew Reynolds, with whom he continued employed on the same station until April, 1807 – and, in April, 1813, to the Transport Service in the Mediterranean, where he remained until Feb. 1815. He accepted the rank of Commander on the Retired List 30 Aug. 1837.