A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Tucker, William
TUCKER. (Retired Commander, 1842. f-p., 22; h-p., 34.)
William Tucker entered the Navy, 27 June, 1791, as Midshipman, on board the Orestes sloop, commanded by the late Sir Harry Burrard Neale; with whom he continued almost uninterruptedly employed in the Aimable 32 and, as Master’s Mate, in the San Fiorenzo of 42 guns until some time in the year 1798. He assisted, we believe, in the Aimable, at the capture of Bastia, in the island of Corsica, and of the 'Moselle' corvette of 18 guns; he was in company, in the San Fiorenzo, with La Nymphe 36, at the capture, 9 March, 1797, of La Résistance of 48 and La Constance of 24 guns; and he was present in the same ship when, to her honour, she passed uncontaminated through the mutinous fleet at the Nore. After having for a short time acted as Lieutenant in the Mars 74, he was confirmed to that rank, 18 Sept. 1798, in the Naiad 38, Capt. Wm. Pierrepont; in which ship, in company at the time with others, ho aided, in Oct. 1799, in taking the Spanish 34-gun frigates Santa Brigida and Thetis, laden with treasure to an enormous amount – his own share of which exceeded 5000l. He left the Naiad in Dec. 1800; and was subsequently appointed – -1 May, 1801, for nearly 12 months, to the Centaur 74, Capt. Bendall Robt. Littlehales, employed (as had been the San Fiorenzo, Mars, and Naiad) on the Home station – 6 Feb. 1804, to the command of a Signal station – 24 May and 27 July, 1805, to the Orion 74 and Thetis 38, Capts. Edw. Codrington and Wm. Hall Gage, in the latter of which ships he served in the North Sea, Channel, and Mediterranean – and, we believe in Dec. 1807, to the charge, which he retained until Jan. 1816, of another Signal station. He was placed on the Junior List of Retired Commanders 26 Nov. 1830; and on the Senior 5 Jan. 1842. Agents – Messrs. Halford and Co.