Royal Naval Biography/Parker, William George
SIR WILLIAM GEORGE PARKER, Bart.
[Post-Captain of 1814.]
Only son of the late Admiral Sir William Parker, Bart. by Jane, eldest daughter of Edward Collingwood, of Greenwich, Esq.[1]
This officer was born Aug. 19, 1787; and made lieutenant Feb. 2, 1803. We first find him serving under the command of Sir Thomas Livingston, Bart, and assisting at the capture of a Spanish national brig, of 18 guns and 109 men, on the Mediterranean station, April 4, 1806. The capture of the schooner mentioned at p. 244 of Vol. II. Part I. is thus described by his gallant captain, in a letter to Lord Collingwood, dated –
“Renommée, off Cape Palos, 4th May, 1806.
“This morning, about 1 a.m.; the boats of the Renommée and Nautilus, under the direction of Lieutenant Sir William Parker, of this ship, gallantly boarded, carried, and brought out from under the fire of the guns of the town and Torre de Vieja, and also from under the fire of more than 100 musketeers, his Catholic Majesty’s schooner Giganta, of 9 guns, viz. two 24-pounders and three 4-pounders, long guns, and four 4-pounders, swivels, with a crew of 38 men. She is, in my opinion, very fit for bis Majesty’s service, particularly at Gibraltar.
“The officers who gallantly supported Sir William Parker, were Lieutenant Charles Adams; Mr. Henry Meerton, lieutenant R.M.; and Mr. Timothy Murray, boatswain, of the Renommée: Lieutenant Alexander Nesbett, and Mr. Dawson, carpenter of the Nautilus. When it is considered, that this schooner[errata 1] was moored with a chain, within half-pistol shot of the shore; that she had boarding nettings up, and was in every respect prepared to receive our boats, as were also the batteries and musketeers, too much praise cannot be given to the officers and men employed; and I am confident their conduct will meet your lordship's approbation.
“In this affair. Mr. Charles Forbes midshipman, and 3 men were badly wounded; 3 others slightly. The enemy had 9 men wounded, one of them mortally, the others severely: – there were none killed on either side.”
On the night of Oct. 21, 1806, the Renommée’s boats, under the direction of Sir William Parker, captured the port of Colon, in the island of Majorca, and, in the face of a fire from the vessels lying there, and also from the tower of Falconara, gallantly boarded and carried a Spanish tartan, mounting 4 guns, and two settees deeply laden with grain, one of them armed. The latter were with great difficulty brought out; but the tartan, having got on shore, was set fire to and destroyed. In the execution of this bold enterprise, the British had only one man wounded.
On the following night, Sir William Parker brought off, from under the guns of Falconara, a settee, mounting 2 guns. On this occasion he was much annoyed by musketry from behind the bushes, which wounded one of his men. To put a stop thereto, he landed with a few sailors and marines, killed 1 Spaniard, and drove off the remainder. The boats then rejoined their frigate without any further loss.
Sir William G. Parker subsequently served as flag-lieutenant to Sir John T. Duckworth, commander-in-chief at Newfoundland, He was advanced to the rank of commander Nov. 29, 1810; and appointed to the Rinaldo brig of 10 guns, Feb. 1, 1812. On the 4th May following, he assisted at the recapture of the Apelles brig, an account of which is given at p. 114 et seq. His next appointment was, May 21, 1813, to the Fly 16, in which vessel he continued until his advancement to post rank, June 6, 1814. He married, in Aug. 1808, Elizabeth, daughter of J. C. Still, Esq.
Agent.– ___ M‘Inerheny, Esq.
- ↑ Vice-Admiral Sir William Parker died at Ham, near Richmond, co. Surrey, Dec. 31, 1802.
- ↑ Original: considered, this schooner was amended to considered, that this schooner