A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Wellesley, George Greville

2002572A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Wellesley, George GrevilleWilliam Richard O'Byrne

WELLESLEY. (Captain, 1844.)

George Greville Wellesley passed his examination in 1834; obtained his first commission 22 April, 1838; and was appointed – 21 Jan. 1839, as Additional Lieutenant, to the Princess Charlotte 104, flag-ship of Hon. Sir Robt. Stopford in the Mediterranean – 30 March following, to the Castor 36, Capt. Edw. Collier, on the same station – and 17 Nov. 1841, to the Thalia 42, Capt. Chas. Hope, fitting for the East Indies. In the Castor, of which ship he became ultimately First-Lieutenant, he took part in 1840 in the operations on the coast of Syria, including the attacks upon Caiffa, Jaffa, Tsour, and St. Jean d’Acre. Previously to the bombardment of Caiffa he ably assisted in placing an Ottoman frigate in the position she was to occupy; he afterwards landed and aided, in full view of 500 of the Egyptian army, in throwing into the sea the 5 guns of a castle which commanded the town.[1] In command of the guard-boats stationed at the pass of Narcourra, halfway to Acre, for the purpose of distributing arms to the mountaineers, he captured 2 officers and 43 men.[2] While serving in the East Indies in the Thalia, Mr. Wellesley was made Commander, 16 April, 1842, into the Childers 16. Soon after the paying off of that vessel he was advanced, 2 Dec. 1844, to his present rank. Agents – Hallett and Robinson.


  1. Vide Gaz. 1840, p. 2601.
  2. Vide Gaz. 1840, p. 2608.