A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Brown, William
BROWN. (Retired Commander, 1833. f-p., 15; h-p., 40.)
William Brown entered the Navy, 1 Jan. 1792, as Surgeon’s Servant, on board the Hind frigate, Capt. Hon. Alex. Inglis Cochrane, stationed off the coast of Scotland; and, in March, 1/93, joined the Edgar 74, Capts. Albemarle Bertie and Sir Chas. Hen. Knowles, employed in the Channel and also in the North Sea, where she was completely dismasted in a violent gale. On removing, as Midshipman, to the Goliath 74, commanded successively by Capts. Sir C. H. Knowles and Thos. Foley, he took part, after cruizing for a considerable time off Toulon, in the action off Cape St. Vincent, 14 Feb. 1797, and was present, 1 Aug. 1798, in the battle of the Nile. At the close of Sir John Jervis’ victory, Mr. Brown was detached for some months into the Britannia 100 Capt. Edw. Marsh, for the purpose of escorting home the four Spanish prizes. He became attached, in Aug. 1799, to the Queen Charlotte 100, flagship of Lord Keith in the Mediterranean; was transferred, 2 March, 1800, to the Caroline 36, Capt. Wm. Bowen, under whom he assisted at the capture of several privateers; and on ultimately rejoining Lord Keith in the Foudroyant, was actively employed in landing troops during the expedition to Egypt in 1801. He obtained his promotion 22 Feb. 1802; held a command in the Sea Fencibles at St. David’s, from 13 July, 1804, until 28 Feb. 1810, when that corps was disbanded; and was placed on the List of Retired Commanders 11 Dec. 1833.