Royal Naval Biography/Browell, William
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 ordered to be paid into the Royal Hospital. The following notice appeared in the London Gazette of Feb. 9, 1802; “A gentleman who will not permit his name to be known, having by a confidential friend sent to Lord Hood, Governor of Greenwich Hospital, the amount of the sale of 10,000l. in the 3 per cent consols, for the use and benefit of the said hospital; the Governors and Directors take this method of returning their most grateful thanks for the very generous gift. This truly benevolent gentleman has also given the like sum to the Chest at Chatham.”