A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Addington, William Silvester
ADDINGTON. (Commander, 1830. f-p., 16; h-p., 32.)
William Silvester Addington entered the Navy, 27 Jan. 1799, as A.B., on board the Penelope 36, Capt. Hon. Chas. Paget, with whom, and at intervals with Capts. Hon. Philip Wodehouse, Geo. Mundy, and Edw. Durnford King, he continued to serve, as Midshipman and Master’s Mate of the Brilliant, Hydra, Endymion, and Egyptienne frigates, until Feb. 1807; during which period he was very actively employed off Newfoundland, and in the Channel and Mediterranean, in cruizing against the enemy, from whom he assisted in taking a large number of privateers and other armed vessels, and, on one occasion, several richly laden Spanish merchantmen. On 12 March, 1807, he was promoted (from the Hibernia 110, flag-ship in the Channel of Earl St. Vincent) to a Lieutenancy in the Maida 74, Capt. Sam. Hood Linzee, part of the force employed in the ensuing expedition against Copenhagen. In the course of 1808, Mr. Addington joined the Leviathan and Revenge 74’s, both commanded by his old Captain, Hon. C. Paget, under whom we find him witnessing, in the Revenge, the destruction of the French shipping in Basque Roads, and also attending the expedition to the Walcheren in 1809. In Oct. 1810, he sailed in command of the Orion transport, with combustibles intended for the destruction of the Toulon fleet; and from April to Sept. 1811, he next had charge of the Delfine fire-brig, in the Adriatic. From the latter date he remained unemployed until at length appointed, 2 Aug. 1827, to the Prince Regent 120, bearing the flag at the Nore of Hon. Sir Henry Blackwood, in which ship he continued until shortly previous to his advancement to the rank of Commander, 22 July, 1830. He has since been on half-pay. Agents – Hallett and Robinson.