WILLIAM HALL GAGE, Esq
Rear-Admiral of the Blue.
This officer is the sixth son of the late Hon. General Thomas Gage, Commander-in-Chief of the forces in North America, by Margaret, daughter of Peter Kemble, Esq., President of the Council of New Jersey[1].
He was born Oct. 2, 1777; entered the naval service in 1789, as a Midshipman, on board the Bellona, a third rate, commanded by the present Admiral Bowen; and subsequently served under Captains Dickson, Alms, Montgomery, and Purvis, in the Captain 74, Proserpine and Inconstant frigates, and Princess Royal, of 98 guns, on the home station, at the Leeward Islands, at Jamaica, and in the Mediterranean. The latter ship bore the flag of Rear-Admiral Goodall in the actions of March 14, and July 13, 1795, the result of which was the capture of the Ca-ira, a French 80, and the Censeur and Alcide, 74’s[2].
From the Princess Royal, Mr. Gage was removed to the Bedford, 74, commanded by his former Captain, Montgomery, which ship was soon after ordered to England in company with several others, as convoy to the homeward bound trade. On the passage they fell in with and were attacked by the French Admiral Richery, who succeeded in cutting off the Censeur and many of the merchantmen[3].
On his return to England, Mr. Gage appears to have joined the Lively, of 32 guns, Captain Lord Garlies. In that frigate he went back to the Mediterranean station with Sir John Jervis, by whom he was removed into the Victory, a first rate, and from her promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, in la Minerve, of 42 guns.
The “gallantry and zeal” displayed by Lieutenant Gage
- ↑ General Gage was the second son of Sir Thomas Gage, Bart., (created a Viscount in 1720) by Benedicta Maria Theresa, sole heiress of Benedict Hall, of High Meadow, co. Gloucester, Esq. The subject of this memoir is consequently an uncle of the present Lord Gage.
- ↑ See pp. 237, 254, and 340.
- ↑ See pp. 485 and 610.
