A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Walker, William (a)
WALKER, K.T.S. (Commander, 1828. f-p., 16; h-p., 30.)
William Walker (a) entered the Navy, 1 May, 1801, as L.M., on board the Impétueux 74, Capt. Sir Edw. Pellew, under whom he was for about 11 months employed off Rochefort. Joining next, 3 Feb. 1803, the Amphion 32, Capt. Thos. Masterman Hardy, he sailed in that frigate with the flag of Lord Nelson for the Mediterranean; where, in July of the same year, he followed the hero into the Victory 100. In Dec. 1804, at which period he had been serving for six months with Capt. Hon. Geo. Elliot, still in the Mediterranean, on board the Maidstone 32, he removed to the Jason 32, Capts. Wm. Burgundy Champain and Thos. John Cochrane, and sailed for the West Indies. He there, 27 Jan. 1807, assisted as Master’s Mate at the capture, off the coast of Surinam, of La Favorite French national ship, mounting 16 long sixes and 13 12-pounder carronades, with a complement of 150 men; and he contributed, in the boats, to the capture of a letter-of- marque of 9 guns and 35 men, and of four Spanish vessels under a heavy fire from the batteries of Puerto Rico. Returning to England in the summer of 1807 he joined in succession in the course of that and the following year the Ville de Paris 110 and Caledonia 120, each bearing the flag of Lord Gambier; and, as Acting-Lieutenant, the Triumph 74, Capt. Sir T. M. Hardy. A few weeks after he had returned to the Caledonia he was nominated, 20 Feb. 1809, Sub-Lieutenant of the Martial gun-brig, Lieut.-Commanders Joseph Marrett and Joshua Kneeshaw; in which vessel, it appears, he witnessed the destruction of the French shipping in Aix Roads and accompanied the expedition to the Walcheren. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant 1 Aug. 1811, nearly seven months after he had left the Martial; and he was subsequently appointed – 23 Dec. 1811, to the Royal Sovereign 100, Capts. Wm. Bedford and Jas. Bisset, in the Channel – 15 Dec. 1813, to the Saturn 56, Capt. Jas. Nash, on the North American station, whence he returned in Nov. 1814 – 18 May, 1821, to the Windsor Castle 74, Capt. Chas. Dashwood, employed, until 1825, at Plymouth and on the coast of Portugal – and 16 March and 26 June, 1827, to the Royal Charlotte and William and Mary yachts, both commanded by Capt. John Chambers White. Since his promotion to the rank of Commander, which took place 25 Aug. 1828, he has been on half-pay.
In commemoration of John VI. of Portugal having taken shelter on board the Windsor Castle off Lisbon after the temporary occupation in May, 1824, Commander Walker, who was then First-Lieutenant, was by his Majesty created, in common with the other officers of the ship, a Knight of the Order of the Tower and Sword. He married, 2 Sept. 1830, Caroline, third daughter of Wm. Winchester, Esq., of Stoke, niece of Alderman Winchester, M.P., of Hawkhurst, and sister-in-law of Commander Rich. Douglas, R.N.