A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Williams, George Bell
WILLIAMS. (Lieut., 1840. f-p., 23; h-p., 3.)
George Bell Williams entered the Navy, 13 July, 1821, as a Volunteer, on board the Windsor Castle 74, Capt. Chas. Dashwood. Being a Midshipman of that ship when Don John took refuge on board of her during a popular commotion at Lisbon, he was by the latter presented, as were the other officers of the ship, with the Order of the Tower and Sword. He continued to serve in the Windsor Castle at Plymouth under the command of Capts. Hugh Downmanand Edw. Durnford King, until Feb. 1826. Joining then the Glasgow 50, Capt. Hon. Jas. Ashley Maude, he sailed for the Mediterranean. He fought, while there, at the battle of Navarin, and assisted in the boats at the cutting-out of several piratical vessels at the island of Hydra. He returned to England in Sept. 1828; passed his examination 7 Jan. 1829; and was employed as Mate – from 12 May, 1829, until 19 March, 1830, in the Kent 78, Capt. John Ferris Devonshire, again at Plymouth – from 20 March, 1830, until Nov. 1833, in the Blanche 46, on the North America and West India station – next, for a few months, in the Tartarus steam-packet, Lieut.-Commander Horatio James – from Nov. 1836 until Jan. 1840, in the Talavera 74, Capt. Wm. Bowen Mends, Harlequin 16, Capt. Lord Fras. John Russell, and Talavera again, Capt. Mends, in the Mediterranean – and in the Astraea 6, Capt. Jas. Hanway Plumridge, at Falmouth. While on her passage through the West Indies, to join the Admiral, Sir Edw. Griffith Colpoys, at Halifax, the Blanche was caught in a hurricane, and for 18 hours was so pressed down upon her beam-ends as to be altogether unmanageable. On reaching her destination under a jury-rig it was found necessary to subject her to nearly a thorough refit, including even a new bowsprit and new lower masts. During the insurrection of 1831-2 on the north side of the island of Jamaica, Mr. Williams was for several weeks employed on shore with a detachment of seamen and marines for the purpose of co-operating with the military and militia, and of affording protection to the town of Montego Bay. While he was so engaged several ineffectual attempts were made by the insurgents to pass the outposts, set fire to the town, and destroy the magazines. His appointments, since his promotion to the rank of Lieutenant, which took place 3 July, 1840, have been – 13 Aug. 1840, to the Jaseur 16, Capt. Fred. Moore Boultbee, on the coast of Spain – 25 Aug. 1841, to the Isis 44, Capt. Sir John Marshall, fitting at Chatham – 16 Nov. following, to the Vindictive 50, Capt. John Toup Nicolas, with whom he circumnavigated the globe – 11 Dec. 1844 (five months after he had left the Vindictive) and 24 July, 1845, as First, to the Waterwitch 10 and Lily 16, Capts. Thos. Fras. Birch and Chas. Jas. Franklin Newton, both on the coast of Africa, whence he returned in July, 1847 – and 8 Feb. 1848, to the Coast Guard, In which service he continues.