A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Wollaston, Charles
WOLLASTON. (Vice-Admiral, of the Blue, 1841. f-p., 21; h-p., 43.)
Charles Wollaston died 19 Feb. 1845, at Bury St. Edmunds, in the 78th year of his age. He was third son of the Rev. Fred. Wollaston, LL.D., Prebendary of Peterborough, by his second wife, Priscilla, daughter of D. Ottley, Esq.; of St. Kitts. His grandfather and great-grandfather each represented the borough of Ipswich in Pailiament; and his eldest brother. Colonel Fred. Wm. Wollaston, of Shenton Hall, co. Leicester, formerly Colonel commanding the 22nd Light Dragoons, and Brigadier-General in Ireland, is a Magistrate and Deputy-Lieutenant for Leicestershire.
This officer entered the Navy, 24 Nov. 1781, as Captain’s Servant, on board the Formidable 98, Capts. Sir Chas. Douglas and John Symons, flagship of Sir Geo. Brydges Rodney in the West Indies; where he continued to serve until the close of 1783, chiefly in the capacities of Midshipman and Master’s Mate, in the Resolution and Warrior 74’s, both commanded by Capt. Symons, Boreas, Capts. Augustus Montgomery and John Wells, and St. Eustatius, Capt. Matthew Smith. He was present in the Formidable in the actions of 9 and 12 April, 1782. In Feb. 1784 he joined, at Deptford, the Royal Charlotte yacht, Capt. Hon. Wm. Cornwallis; with whom, after having been for four years employed on the coast of North America in the Assistance and Leander, Commodores Sir C. Douglas and Herbert Sawyer, he sailed for the East Indies, in the early part of 1789, in the Crown 64. Subsequently to his arrival he was made Lieutenant, 25 Oct. 1790, into the Phoenix 36, Capts. Geo. Anson Byron and Sir Rich. John Strachan. In Dec. 1792, having returned to England with Capt. Robt. Manners Sutton in the Crown, he joined the Boyne 98, flag-ship in the Channel of Admiral Philip Affleck; he was next, in 1793-5, appointed, on the Halifax station, to the Oiseau, Capt. Robt. Murray, and Resolution, bearing the flag of Admiral Geo. Murray; he attained the rank of Commander 6 Dec. 1796; he served as such in the Cruizer 18 in the North Sea from 2 Feb. 1798 until posted 1 Jan. 1801; and from April, 1802, until Dec. 1805, he was employed in the Sea Fencibles at Colchester and at Swansea. In the Cruizer he made prize of the privateers Jupiter of 8 guns and 36 men, Chasseur of 4 guns and 48 men, Les Deux Frères of 14 guns and 50 men, Courageux of 14 guns and 47 men, Persévérant of 14 guns and 49 men, and Flibustier of 14 guns and 54 men. He was placed on the Retired List of Rear-Admirals 22 July, 1830; transferred to the Active List 17 Aug. 1840; and advanced to the rank of Vice-Admiral 23 Nov. 1841.