A Naval Biographical Dictionary/White, George

2005103A Naval Biographical Dictionary — White, GeorgeWilliam Richard O'Byrne

WHITE. (Retired Commander, 1849. f-p., 22; h-p., 27.)

George White, a native of Havant, co. Hants, is son of the late Geo. White, Esq., Purser and Paymaster R.N. (1793), of Dunse, N.B.; and half-brother of the present Vice-Admiral Wight.

This officer entered the Navy, in Dec. 1798, as A.B., on board the Spiteful gun-brig, Lieut.-Commander John Wood, stationed off Jersey, where he continued employed as Midshipman until May, 1802. From July until Oct. of the latter year he served in the Liberty 14, Lieut.-Commander Hugh Cook, in the Mediterranean; and in March, 1803, he joined the Dreadnought 98, Capts. Wm. Domett, Edw. Brace, John Child Purvis, Robt. Carthew Reynolds, Geo. Reynolds, Edw. Rotheram, and John Conn. In that ship, which bore the flags at different periods of Admirals Cornwallis, Collingwood, and Lord Northesk, he was for a long time stationed in the Channel and off Cadiz, and was present as Master’s Mate at the battle of Trafalgar 21 Oct. 1805. Removing, in May, 1806, to the Captain 74, Capts. Wm. Grenville Lobb, Geo. Cockburn, Isaac Wolley, and the late Sir Jas. Athol Wood, he was afforded an opportunity of assisting, 27 Sept. following, at the capture, by a squadron under Sir Thos. Louis, of Le Président French frigate of 44 guns. He cooperated also in the reduction of Copenhagen in Aug. and Sept. 1807; and in Feb. and April, 1809, he served on shore at the taking of Martinique and the Saintes. In Aug. of the year last-mentioned he accompanied Sir J. A. Wood as Acting-Lieutenant (he had obtained that rank in the Captain 4 Dec. 1807) into the Neptune 98. To her he was confirmed 2 Nov. ensuing. His next appointment was, with Sir J. A. Wood, 18 March, 1810, to the Pompée 74; to which ship he continued attached in the West Indies, Channel, and Mediterranean, until Nov. 1815. On 5 Nov. 1813 he was present in a partial action with the French Toulon fleet. He was afterwards, from 24 Nov. 1825 until 1831, employed in the Coast Blockade with his name on the books of the Ramillies and Talavera 74’s, both commanded by Capt. Hugh Pigot. During four years and six months of that period he was a Divisional- Lieutenant, and had the superintendence of the left division of the Kentish Coast Blockade. He accepted the rank he now holds 2 March, 1849. Agents – Case and Loudonsack.