A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Phillips, William

1875846A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Phillips, WilliamWilliam Richard O'Byrne

PHILLIPS. (Lieut, 1815. f-p., 9; h-p., 31)

William Phillips entered the Navy, 12 April, 1807, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Sheldrake 16, Capt. John Thicknesse, employed on the Jersey and Guernsey station, where he came into frequent contact with the enemy’s gun-brigs and batteries, and was more than once engaged in cutting out their vessels. In 1809, having removed as Midshipman to the Diomede 50, Capt. Hugh Cook, he sailed with Vice-Admiral Wm. O’Brien Drury for the East Indies, whence, in March, 1811, we find him escorting several of the Hon. Co.’s ships by St. Helena. In the following Sept. Mr. Phillips was received on board the Ulysses 44, in which ship he continued to serve under the flags, off Jersey and Cherbourg, of Admirals D’Auvergne and Wm. Brown, until Sept. 1812. During the next 12 months he was employed at the blockade of the Texel, as Master’s Mate, in the Dannemark 74, Capt. Henry Edw. Reginald Baker. He then joined the Medway 74, bearing the flag of Sir Chas. Tyler at the Cape of Good Hope. In Nov. 1815, having been awarded a commission dated 6 of the preceding March, he returned to England. He has since been on half-pay. He married in 1817, and has issue one son and seven daughters.