A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Watson, David Henry
WATSON. (Lieut., 1818. f-p., 14; h-p., 26.)
David Henry Watson entered the Navy, 11 March, 1807, as Midshipman, on board the Agamemnon[1] 64, Capt. Jonas Rose, under whom, after accompanying the expedition against Copenhagen, he sailed for the Rio de la Plata and was there wrecked 20 June, 180D. He was employed next, from Dec. 1810 until May, 1813, in the Courageux 74, Capt. Philip Wilkinson, in the Baltic; from May, 1813, until Aug. 1815 in the Albion and Sceptre 74’s, Capts. John Ferris Devonshire and Wm. Waller, on the coasts of North America and France; from Aug. 1815 until May, 1816, in the Araxes 38, Capt. Geo. Miller Bligh, in the West Indies; from July, 1816, until June, 1817, in the Montreal, bearing the broad pendant of Commodore Sir Robt. Hall on Lake Ontario; and from Jan. 1818 until July, 1819, as Midshipman, Master’s Mate, and Lieutenant (commission dated 3 Dec. 1818) in the Leander 60, flag-ship of Sir David Milne at Halifax. He afterwards had charge, for nearly three years, of a Preventive station on the coast of Hampshire, embracing at least 15 miles of country; and, as a proof of the arduous nature of the duties he had to perform, it may be mentioned that during the winter-months he had been known to be out for 14 nights together, each time for 16 hours, without being able to lie down, except on the wet ground.
From 7 May, 1823, until 9 May, 1834, Lieut. Watson filled the appointment of Landing-Waiter and Searcher at the port of Halifax, Nova Scotia. He has, since then, been employed in the Custom House in London; where he is at present Surveyor of the outward department. While at Halifax he received the thanks of the Governor, Lieut.-General Sir Peregrine Maitland, and of the Council and House of Assembly of Nova Scotia for his exertions in establishing a quarantine, at a time of great excitement and danger. All his testimonials concur in proving him to be an officer possessed of the greatest temper, and in the highest degree “principled, sensible, active, energetic, zealous, and judicious.” When on his passage from Halifax to London in the brig Brothers he was the means of saving the crew, in number 14, of a vessel, the Three Sisters, which was encountered in a sinking state, with everything swept from her decks, including both her boats. Although the wind was blowing hard and the sea running mountains high, his intrepidity and humanity induced him, regardless of danger, to endeavour, in a boat, to board the Three Sisters. As we have said, he providentially succeeded, and after repeated trips rescued the whole of the unfortunate persons, many of whom were in so disabled a state that they were unable during the remainder of the voyage to come on deck. Agents – Messrs. Halford and Co.
- ↑ Mr. Watson – at the time a boy at school – had gone on board the Agamemnon on a visit, but the ship being ordered suddenly to sea he availed himself of that opportunity of joining the service.