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A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Williams, Thomas (b)

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2009714A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Williams, Thomas (b)William Richard O'Byrne

WILLIAMS. (Lieut., 1815. f-p.,24;[1] h-p., 18.)

Thomas Williams (b) entered the Navy, 2 March, 1805, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Pigmy 14, Lieut.-Commander Wm. Smith; and in the course of the same year was wrecked in St. Aubin’s Bay, Jersey. He served, from March, 1806, until Oct. 1807, in the Belleisle[2] and Northumberland 74’s, both commanded by Capt. Wm. Hargood on the North American and West India stations; and he was employed afterwards as Midshipman and Master’s Mate – from Oct. 1807 until Oct. 1810 in the Bedford 74, Capts. Jas. Walker and Adam Mackenzie, on the coast of Brazil, whither he escorted the Royal Family of Portugal – from Oct. 1810 until Dec. 1812, in the Dragon 74, flag-ship of Sir Fras. Laforey, Subtle, Lieut.-Commander Chas. Brown, Opossum, Capt. Thos. Wolrige, and Ringdove, Capt. Wm. Dowers, all in the West Indies – and from Dec. 1812, until promoted to the rank of Lieutenant 14 Feb. 1815, in the Salvador del Mundo, Capt. Jas. Nash, and Opossum again, Capts. T. Wolrige and Sir John Chas. Richardson. He was appointed an Agent for Transports 9 Jan. 1823; and since 23 Feb. 1834 has been employed as Director of Police at Devonport Dockyard. He had been appointed to the Ordinary at that place 5 June, 1833.

Lieut. Williams obtained a pension of 91l. 5s. per annum for wounds 1 July, 1816. During the session of 1828-9 he received the large silver medal of the Society of Arts for his invention of oars to be worked by one hand. He married, 27 June, 1827, Juliana, only daughter of J. Drinkwater, Esq., of Queen Anne Cottage, Plymouth.


  1. Not including Transport time.
  2. The Belleisle, in company with the Bellona 74, and Melampus 36, assisted, 14 Sept. 1806, at the destruction, off Cape Henry, of the Impétueux French ship of 74 guns and 670 men.