A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Chamberlain, William Browne
CHAMBERLAIN. (Lieutenant, 1809. f-p., 25; h-p., 22.)
William Browne Chamberlain entered the Navy, 8 Dec. 1800, as Ordinary, on board the Monmouth 64, Capt. Geo. Hart, flag-ship afterwards, on the Home station, of Rear-Admiral Thos. Macnamara Russell, in which he attained the rating of Midshipman 1 Aug. 1801, and continued to serve until Nov. 1804. During that period he was at first employed in cruizing off the coast of Holland; then sailed with troops for Egypt, where he assisted at the capture of Alexandria in March, 1801; and, on the renewal of hostilities, took part in the blockade of Toulon. We next find him in succession attached, for a short while as Supernumerary -Midshipman, to the Royal William, flag-ship of Admiral Montagu, at Spithead, and, for upwards of two years, as Master’s Mate, to the Aurora 28, Capt. John Wentworth Loring, at Bermuda, and Milan 38, Capt. Sir Robt. Laurie, at Halifax. On 11 June, 1807, within three months of passing, Mr. Chamberlain joined, as Acting-Lieutenant, the Bellona 74, Capt. John Erskine Douglas, stationed in Chesapeake Bay; from which ship he was transferred, in a similar capacity, 1 June, 1808, to the Aeolus 32, Capts. Lord Wm. Fitzroy and Lord Jas. Townshend. He obtained his official promotion 27 Jan. 1809; and, after assisting at the ensuing reduction of Martinique, and serving for four years on the coast of North America, returned to Portsmouth, where he was paid off in Sept. 1813. He was subsequently employed in the Ordinary at the latter place from 18 March, 1830, until the same date in 1833; and, on 25 Sept. 1837, was appointed to the Quarantine Establishment at Standgate Creek. He is now on half-pay.
He is married and has issue. His son William, Midshipman of H.M. steamer Firefly, died of yellow fever at Barbadoes, 17 June, 1835, at the age of 17.