A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Preedy, George William

1883222A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Preedy, George WilliamWilliam Richard O'Byrne

PREEDY. (Lieut., 1844. f-p., 19; h-p., 0.)

George William Preedy entered the Navy, 12 Nov. 1828, as a Volunteer, on board the Ranger 28, Capt. Wm. Walpole, fitting for the West Indies, where he followed the same officer, as Midshipman, in the early part of 1832, into the Pallas 42, and continued employed until May, 1834. During that period he was constantly engaged in the suppression of the slave-trade; and pn one occasion, while lent to the Nimble schooner, of 5 guns, Lieut.-Commander Chas. Bolton, was for a long time, prior to the surrender of the enemy, exposed to the fire of the Joaquina, a large slaver, mounting one heavy gun upon a pivot. From May, 1834, until Nov. 1842, he served on the Mediterranean station in the Portland 52, Capt. David Price, Madagascar 46, Capt. Edm. Lyons, Rodney 92, Capt. Hyde Parker, and Calcutta 84, Capt. Sir Sam. Roberts. He then (he had passed his examination, while in the Rodney, 27 Aug. 1836) joined the Excellent gunnery-ship at Portsmouth, Capt. Sir Thos. Hastings; and on 10 June, 1844, four months after he had been removed to the Camperdown 104, flag-ship of Sir John Chambers White at the Nore,he was advanced to the rank of Lieutenant. His appointments have since been – 13 Sept. 1844, to the Queen 110, Capt. Wm. Fanshawe Martin, lying at Plymouth – 30 Jan. 1845, to the Trafalgar 120, Capts. W. F. Martin and John Neale Nott, under the latter of whom he cruized with the Channel squadron – and 7 July, 1846, to the Constance 50, Capts. Sir Baldwin Wake Walker and Geo. Wm. Conway Courtenay, now in the Pacific.