A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Cole, William

1660979A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Cole, WilliamWilliam Richard O'Byrne

COLE. (Lieutenant, 1816. f-p., 10; h-p., 29.)

William Cole entered the Navy, 27 May, 1808, as Sec.-cl. Boy, on board the Diomede 50, Capt. John Sykes, flag-ship on the Guernsey station of Sir Edm. Nagle, and, continuing until Nov. 1809 to serve with the former officer in the Ardent 64, and Adamant armée en flûte, attended, in the last-named ship, the expedition against Walcheren. He then joined the Royal William, bearing the flag of Sir Roger Curtis at Portsmouth; obtained, 11 Sept. 1810, a Midshipman’s berth on board the Rifleman brig, Capt. Joseph Pearce, employed in the North Sea; and became subsequently attached, on the same, the Mediterranean, and African stations, latterly as Acting-Lieutenant, to the Coquette 20, Capt. Geo. Hewson, Duncan 74, and Royal Sovereign 100, both commanded by Capt. Robt. Lambert, and Porcupine 22, Capt. Booty Harvey. Being next appointed Admiralty-Midshipman of the Leander 50, Capts. William Skipsey and Edw. Chetham, he fought and was severely wounded at the battle of Algiers, 27 Aug. 1816;[1] shortly after which he was promoted, 16 Sept., to the rank he now holds. He subsequently, on 24 Jan. 1824, joined the Coast Blockade, as a Supernumerary-Lieutenant of the Ramillies 74, Capts. Wm. M‘Culloch and Hugh Pigot; but has not, since 1826, been professionally employed.

Lieut. Cole is at present Superintending Registrar for the Woburn Districts, Upper Canada.


  1. Vide Gaz. 1816, p. 1793.