A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Watson, William
WATSON. (Retired Commander, 1840.)
William Watson died, we believe, in 1846. This officer entered the Navy, 4 Jan. 1784, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Europa 50, Capt. John Fisher, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Alex. Innis at Jamaica; where he continued employed until May, 1790, in the Severn, Capt. Lauchlan Hunter, and Aurora, Capt. John Sutton. He served next, chiefly on the Home station – from May, 1790, until March, 1794, in the Melampus 36, Capt. Chas. Morice Pole, Savage sloop, Capt. Alex. Fraser, and Ranger cutter, Lieut.-Commander Isaac Cotgrave – from March, 1794, until Nov. 1797, as Midshipman and Master’s Mate, in the Sampson 64 and Hector 74, both commanded by Capt. Robt. Montagu – and, from Dec. 1797 until April, 1798, as Master’s Mate, in the Cumberland 74, Capt. R. Montagu, and Royal George 100, flag-ship of Lord Bridport. Being nominated, 3 May in the latter year, Acting- Lieutenant of La Pique 36, Capt. David Milne, he was in that ship wrecked on the coast of France at the capture, 29 June following, of the French frigate La Seine of 42 guns and 610 men (including troops), after a running action of about five hours, in which the enemy sustained a loss of 170 killed and 100 wounded, and the British (whose force consisted, in addition to La Pique, of the Jason 38 and Mermaid 32) of 9 killed and 18 wounded. Mr. Watson’s steady and cool behaviour on the occasion was much praised.[1] He was officially promoted 4 Aug. 1798. He was afterwards employed on the Home and West India stations as First-Lieutenant, until Dec. 1802, in the Bonetta sloop, Capt. Henry Vansittart, Lowestoffe frigate, Capt. Robt. Plampin, Blenheim 98, Capt. Philip Turner Bover, and Magicienne 32, Capt. Henry Vansittart; and from Dec. 1803 until Feb. 1811, with the officer last mentioned, in the Fortunée 36. When off the Havana in the summer of 1806, in company with the Surveillante 38, Hercule 74, an armed schooner, and a homeward-bound convoy, the Fortunée fell in with a number of Spanish gun-vessels under the protection of a 74-gun ship and two guoarda-costas. Being detached in pursuit, she succeeded, with the aid of the schooner, in capturing the guarda-costas and upwards of 20 sail, deeply laden with sugar, &c., the whole of which were destroyed. On leaving the Fortunée, Mr. Watson joined, for a few weeks, the Trent frigate, bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Edw. Thornbrough at Cork. His last appointment was, 5 March, 1813, again as First-Lieutenant, to the Albion 74, Capt. John Ferris Devonshire; from which ship, employed in the North Sea and at Halifax, he invalided in the ensuing Oct. He was admitted to the Out-Pension of Greenwich Hospital 7 Nov. 1840, and placed on the list of Retired Commanders 23 Dec. in the same year.
In consideration of a wound he received during the war, which occasioned him the loss of the use of the right leg and foot, he was allotted a pension of 91l. 5s. per annum 13 April, 1812. Agent – Joseph Woodhead.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1798, p. 651.