A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Ward, Richard
WARD. (Lieutenant, 1810.)
Richard Ward entered the Navy, 4 March, 1798, as Midshipman, on board the Robust 74, Capts. Edw. Thornbrough, Geo. Countess, Wm. Brown, and Wm. Henry Jervis; in which ship, employed on the coast of Ireland and in the Bay of Biscay, he contributed to the capture, 12 Oct. 1798, of the French 74-gun ship Le Hoche one of a squadron commanded by Commodore Bompart. The loss of the Robust on that occasion amounted to 10 killed and 40 wounded. In June, 1802, Mr. Ward removed for about three months to the Formidable 98, Capt. Rich. Grindall, on the West India station. From July, 1803, until June, 1808, he served in the Mediterranean in the Excellent 74, Capt. Frank Sotheron, Windsor Castle 98, Capt. Chas. Boyles (part of the force engaged in the expedition to the Dardanells), Spartan 38, Capt. Jahleel Brenton, and Windsor Castle again. In the Spartan he acted as Lieutenant from 7 June until 1 Sept. 1807. On finally leaving the Windsor Castle he joined, in June, 1808, the Atlas 74, bearing the flag of Admiral John Child Purvis at the defence of Cadiz. He was nominated Acting-Lieutenant of that ship 4 Sept. 1810; and on 18 Dec. following he was officially promoted. He was employed next – between Jan. 1811 and Dec. 1815, in the Channel, in the North Sea, and at Portsmouth, in the Spitfire sloop, Capt. John Ellis, Cruizer 18, Capt. Thos. Rich. Toker, Griffon of 16 guns, Capts. Geo. Bame Trollope and Geo. Hewson, and Prince 98 and Queen Charlotte 100, flag-ships of Sir Edw. Thornbrough – from Dec. 1815 until March, 1816, in command of the Algerine brig – from March, 1816, until Jan. 1818, again under Sir E. Thornbrough in the Queen Charlotte and Boyne 98 – for some time in command of the Hawke Revenue-cruizer – from 1837 until 1844 in the Transport service, as an Agent afloat – and, from 1 May, 1845, until 1848, in the Victory 101, Capts. Geo. Moubray and John Pasco, and Blenheim steamer, Capt. Rich. Augustus Yates, guard-ships at Portsmouth. Deducting the time he served in the Revenue, Mr. Ward, in 1847, had been 27 years in active employment.