Royal Naval Biography/Shepheard, William (b)
WILLIAM SHEPHEARD, Esq.
[Commander.]
Entered the royal navy, Jan. 14th, 1804, as midshipman on board the Temeraire 98, Captain (afterwards Sir Eliab) Harvey, under whom he bore a part at the ever-memorable battle of Trafalgar, on which occasion his conduct was thus noticed by that distinguished officer, in a private letter, dated Nov. 9th, 1805:–
“This is the first opportunity I have had of sending you any information respecting Shepheard, since our fight on the 21st October; he behaved with great courage, and has been admired by us all.
(Signed)“E. Harvey.”
On the 1st Dec. 1806, Mr. Shepheard joined the Tonnant 80, Captain Thomas Brown, in which ship he served until July 16th, 1807. We next find him in the Amelia frigate. Captain the Hon. F. P. Irby, from Mar. 17th, 1808, until Mar. 9th, 1809; when he rejoined the Tonnant, and continued in her, under Captains Brown and Anthony T. Abdy, upwards of six months.
On the 28th Sept. 1809, he was again received on board the Amelia; and on the 6th April, 1813, he obtained the following testimonial from his gallant commander:–
“This is to certify, that during the time Mr. W. Shepheard served on board H.M. ship under my command, he ever conducted himself much to my satisfaction, and I consider him to be a very promising young officer: he was particularly active[1] during the action with the French frigate Aréthuse[2]; and subsequently, when the whole of the lieutenants were killed, it made his attentions the more valuable; and I was only prevented from appointing him to act as lieutenant, from his age not corresponding with the regulation on that head, and there being an officer on board, invalided for change of climate.
(Signed)“F. Paul Irby, Captain.”
On the 22d May 1813, Mr. Shepheard was removed into the Rivoli 74, Captain (now Sir Graham E.) Hamond, where he continued until Oct. 5th following. On the day afterwards, he passed his examination, and from that time remained at home with his friends until promoted to the rank of lieutenant, Feb. 24th, 1815.
On the 21st Nov. 1816, Mr. Shepheard received an appointment to the Phäeton frigate, then at St. Helena, but was prevented from going out to join that ship, by an Admiralty order, stating that she was on her voyage home. His subsequent appointments were, Jan. 5th, 1818, to the Spartan frigate. Captain W. F. Wise; and April 29, 1828, to be first of the Samarang 28, Captain W. F. Martin. The following are copies of testimonials from those officers:–
These are to certify, that Lieutenant William Shepheard served on board H.M. ship Spartan, under my command, from Jan. 13th, 1818, to Jan. 31st, 1821, during the whole of which time his conduct was such as to merit my warmest approbation: his unwearied zeal for the service was only equalled by his abilities as an officer and a seaman; and I can safely say, that in all these essential points, I never met his superior, or one who is more calculated to be a credit to that service to which he is so warmly attached.
(Signed)“W. F. Wise.”
“H.M.S. Samarang 8th April, 1831.
“This is to certify, that Mr. W. Shepheard served as first lieutenant of H.M.S. Samarang for three years, under my command; and I feel in justice bound to bear testimony to the admirable manner in which he has discharged every part of his duty; no service is too diHicult and irksome, or too trifling, to secure his ready and cordial assistance in its execution; and the ability and seamanlike manner in which he carries it into effect, is equalled only by his indefatigable zeal. I have often had occasion to notice the great temper and judgment he shews in those important parts of a first lieutenant’s duty, connected with the treatment and management of the ship’s company. I can truly assert, that in Mr. Shepheard is united, with the strictest propriety of conduct, the most intimate acquaintance with all parts of his duty, and the greatest devotion to the service.
(Signed)“W. F. Martin, Captain.”
A few days previous to the date of this latter certificate, the captain of the Donegal 78, wrote to Lieutenant Shepheard as follows:
“Dear Sir,– As I find the Samarang is to be immediately paid off, I lose no time in mentioning to you, that the senior lieutenancy of this ship is vacant, and it would give me pleasure to see it filled by an officer of your high character and qualifications.
(Signed)“John Dick.”
About the same time, Lieutenant Shepheard received similar invitations from other captains; “but,” said he, when addressing Sir James Graham, “your memorialist owes it to himself to decline those offers, and to throw himself upon your equitable administration of the patronage of the First Lord of the Admiralty, in the confident hope that you will be pleased to give him such employment as will hold out a fair prospect of his advancement to the rank of commander.”
The Samarag was paid off on the 1st June, 1831; and two days afterwards her late first lieutenant obtained his well merited promotion. On the 30th Sept. following, he was appointed to the Melville 74, fitting out for the flag of Sir John Gore, who, without any recommendation on the part of friends, or personal solicitation, selected him to serve as commander on board that ship, having formed the most favorable opinion of his conduct while serving in the Samarang.
Commander Shepheard invalided from the Melville, on the East India station, in June 1833.
- ↑ As master’s-mate.
- ↑ See Vol. II. Part I. p. 492 et seq.