WILLIAM BROWELL, Esq
[Retired Captain.]
Lieutenant-Governor, and a Director, of the Royal Hospital at Greenwich; and a Trustee of the Naval Charitable Society[1].
This officer obtained post rank Nov. 29, 1794; and commanded the Sans Pareil of 80 guns, bearing the flag of Lord Hugh Seymour, in the action off l’Orient, June 23, 1795[2]. He was appointed a Captain of Greenwich Hospital in 1805, and became Lieutenant-Governor of that establishment early in 1809. Mrs. Browell, who was a daughter of Rear-Admiral Faulknor, died Sept. 20, in the same year[3].
- ↑ See Vol. I., note at p. 56.
- ↑ See Vol. I. p. 246.
- ↑ The Royal Hospital at Greenwich, which now stands a proud and admirable monument of national gratitude, may be said to have originated in private benevolence, and affection for the service, to the reception of whose honorable and meritorious veterans it is appropriated.
Those great commanders Sir Francis Drake and Sir John Hawkins, laid the foundation of this most excellent institution, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth (anno 1587). They also assisted in the creation of that noble fund, the Chest at Chatham, of which mention has already been made in our 1st Vol. p. 93.
In the year 1694, the establishment at Greenwich first assumed a regular form. King William and Queen Mary granted the royal palace at that place, to be converted into an hospital for the reception of decayed seamen; and also a sum for extending the building. In 1699, an Act of Parliament directed that sixpence per month should be deducted from the wages of all seamen, both in the royal navy and in the merchants’ service, for its support; and on the 1st Dec. 1704, a Lieutenant-Governor and other officers were appointed, previous to the admission of the pensioners. The first mention we find of the appointment of a First Master and Governor, is in the year 1708.
In 1735, the funds of Greenwich Hospital were considerably augmented by the appropriation of the rents of the attainted Earl of Derwentwater and Charles Ratcliff, which by Act of Parliament were directed to be applied, first, to the completion and beautifying of the building; after which, to the support and maintenance of its inmates. In 1744, all unclaimed shares of prize-money, at the expiration of three years, were or-
the mother dock), Deptford, and Portsmouth yards, were founded in the reign of Henry VIII. In 1650, there was no mast-house or dry dock at the latter, and the Commissioner resided within the garrison walls; the first house built for that officer was begun in 1664, and finished in 1666. The first yard established at Chatham stood where the gun-wharf now is; but it being too confined a spot, and having only one small dock, was removed about the year 1622, to its present situation. The fort at Sheerness was built by Charles II. whom we must therefore consider as the founder of the yard at that place.
