A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Wood, William
WOOD. (Retired Commander, 1846. f-p., 10; h-p., 44.)
William Wood was born 21 Feb. 1770.
This officer entered the Navy, 17 Sept. 1793, as Master’s Mate, on board the Aurora 28, Capts. Wm. Essington, Rich. King, Chas. Gamier, Rawlinson, Henry Digby, and Thos. Gordon Caulfeild, in which ship he was for six years employed in the North Sea and Channel, on the coasts of Spain and Portugal (where he served in the boats in several cutting-out affairs), and in the Mediterranean. He then, in Sept. 1799, joined, also as Master’s Mate, the Alcmène 32, commanded by his former Captain, Digby; under whom we find him assisting, in company with other ships, at the capture, in Oct. 1799, off Cape Finisterre, of the Spanish 34-gun frigates Santa Brigida and Thetis, laden with treasure ato an enormous amount. After serving for a short time with Capt. Essington at Portsmouth in the Sceptre 74, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant 1 Aug. 1801, and appointed to the command, in the Downs, of the Flamer gun-brig; which vessel he paid off 12 April, 1802. From 12 July, 1803, until 26 April, 1804, he was employed in the Sea Fencibles at Ramsgate. This was his last appointment. He was placed on the Junior List of Retired Commanders 3 Oct. 1831; and on the Senior 16 Sept. 1846.
Commander Wood married, 17 March, 1801, Miss Sarah Browning, by whom he had a daughter, now deceased, who married Capt. Edw. Chappell, R.N. Agent – J. Chippendale.