Royal Naval Biography/Laugharne, William
WILLIAM LAUGHARNE, Esq.
[Commander.]
A son of the late Captain Thomas Laugharne, R.N. and nephew of the lute Vice-Admiral John Laugharne.
This officer was born at Poole, co. Dorset, Dec. 21st, 1785. He appears to have entered the royal navy in Jan. 1798, as midshipman on board the Barfleur 98, Captain (afterwards Vice-Admiral) James R. Dacres, under whom he also served in the Foudroyant 80. From that ship, after witnessing the surrender of Naples, in June, 1799, and the subsequent capture of le Généreux 74, la Ville de Marseilles, store-ship, and le Guillaume Tell 80, he followed the late Sir Edward Berry into the Princess Charlotte 38, and continued to serve under his command, in that ship and the Ruby 64, until the peace of Amiens. He next joined la Concorde 30, Captain Robert Barton; removed from her into the Tremendous 74, Captain John Osborn, at the Cape of Good Hope, in Feb. 1303; and was appointed by Sir Edward Pellew (now Viscount Exmouth) to act as lieutenant of the Cornwallis frigate, on the East India station, March 25th, 1805. His first commission bears date Nov. 14th, 1806.
Mr. Laugharne’s subsequent appointments were to the Russel 74, flag-ship of Rear-Admiral W. O’Brien Drury; Rattlesnake sloop. Commander William Flint, in which vessel he returned to England; Southampton 32, Captain Edwards Lloyd Graham; Alcmene 38, commanded by the same officer, on the Mediterranean station; and to be his uncle’s flag-lieutenant, at Malta, where he was serving when promoted to his present rank, September 23d, 1814.
Commander Laugharne has been twice married: first, in Nov. 1818, to Louisa, daughter of retired Commander Peter Tait; and, secondly, in June, 1825, to Mary Emelia, daughter of the late Samuel Rawlings, of Charlton, co. Kent, Esq. His only brother. Lieutenant Thomas Laugharne, a most enterprising young officer, perished in the Jaseur brig, when crossing the Bay of Bengal, on his way to China, in Aug. 1809.