A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Walker, Henry (a)
WALKER. (Lieut., 1810. f-p., 14; h-p., 30.)
Henry Walker (a) entered the Navy 26 Sept. 1803, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Gibraltar 80, Capt. Geo. Fred. Ryves, stationed in the Mediterranean. In July, 1804, he became Midshipman to the Bellerophon 74, Capts. John Loring, John Cooke, and Edw. Rotheram; in which ship, after serving at the blockade of Brest, Rochefort, and Cadiz, we find him participating, 21 Oct. 1805, in the glories of Trafalgar. On removing next to the Foudroyant 80, flag-ship of Sir John Borlase Warren, he was afforded an opportunity, 13 March, 1806, of witnessing the surrender (while in quest of a French squadron with Jerome Buonaparte on board) of the Marengo 80, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Linois and 40-gun frigate Belle Poule. In the following Dec. he joined Rear-Admiral Geo. Murray in the Polyphemus 64; and in July, 1807, having been lent to the Néréide 36, Capt. Peter Heywood, he took part in the unsuccessful attack upon Buenos Ayres. After again serving under the flag of Sir John B. Warren in the Swiftsure 74 and other ships on the Halifax station he was received, in Nov. 1808, on board the Cleopatra 32, Capt. Sam. John Pechell. On his arrival in her in the West Indies he contributed, 22 Jan. 1809, to the capture (the British ships Jason 32 and Hazard 18 in company) of the French 40-gun frigate La Topaze,[1] after a very spirited action fought chiefly between the Cleopatra and the enemy; and in the following month he co-operated in the reduction of Martinique. In Oct. of the same year he joined, first the Penelope 36, Capt. John Dick, and next, as Acting-Lieutenant, the Atalante sloop, Capt. Fred. Hickey. On his return to England as Acting-Lieutenant in the former ship, to which he had gone back, he was officially promoted 3 Oct. 1810. He served afterwards, until Sept. 1817, on the Home, Baltic, North American, and Mediterranean stations, in the Courageux 74, Capt. Philip Wilkinson, Manilla 36, Capt. John Joyce, Tartarus 20, Capt. John Pasco, Cuttle schooner, commanded by himself (from 27 July, 1811, until 27 May, 1812), Julia, Capt. Hon. Valentine Gardner, Beaver, Capt. Edw. O’Brien Drury, Niobe 40, Commodore Edw. W. C. R. Owen, Menelaus 38, Capt. Edw. Dix, and Leander 50, Capts. Wm. Skipsey and Edw. Chetham. He has since been on half-pay. When in company, in the Menelaus, with a squadron under the present Sir Chas. Malcolm he aided, 18 July, 1815, in capturing, in the boats, an armed cutter, a praam-brig, and a gun-vessel, together with a convoy reposing under their protection in the harbour of Corrijou. He was slightly wounded in the Leander at the battle of Algiers 27 Aug. 1816.[2]