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A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Mitchell, William

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1837208A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Mitchell, WilliamWilliam Richard O'Byrne

MITCHELL. (Lieut., 1829. f-p.,30; h-p., 9.)

William Mitchell, born 19 Oct. 1799, is son of Lieut.-Col. Thos. Mitchell, R.M., who died in Oct. 1829.

This officer entered the Navy, 4 May, 1808, as Sec.-cl. Boy, on board the Warspite 74, Capt. Hon. Henry Blackwood, with whom he served in the Mediterranean until Oct. 1812 – the greater part of the time in the capacity of Midshipman. He reembarked, 12 June, 1818, on board the Ister 42, Capt. Thos. Forrest; and on 26 Oct. 1820, after he had been for rather more than three years employed on the Newfoundland station, in the Sir Francis Drake frigate, Capt. John Bowker, Carnation 18, Capt. Wm. Nugent Glascock, and Drake 10, Capt. Octavius Vernon Harcourt, he passed his examination. During the next eight years and a half we find him serving as Admiralty Midshipman, Mate, and Admiralty Mate, in the Severn 40, and Ramillies 74, both commanded by Capt. Wm. M‘Culloch. Rainbow 28, Capt. Hon. Henry John Rous, Larne 20, Capt. Wm. Burdett Dobson, Prince Regent 120, Capt. Constantine Rich. Moorsom, and Isis 50, Commodore Sir Thos. Staines, on the Downs, East India, Chatham, and Mediterranean stations. He was then, 25 Aug. 1829, promoted to a Lieutenancy in the Samarang 28, Capt. Wm. Fanshawe Martin, also in the Mediterranean; whence, in Nov. 1830, he returned to England in the Rifleman 18, Capt. Rich. Shepheard Triscott. He has been in command, since 18 March, 1834, of a station in the Coast Guard.

Lieut. Mitchell married, 18 Aug. 1842, Frances Heassey, eldest daughter of Lieut. W. Ashby, R.N., then of Bexhill.