A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Wilbraham, Richard
WILBRAHAM. (Commander, 1814. f-p., 18; h-p., 53.)
Richard Wilbraham died in 1848.
This officer entered the Navy, in Dec. 1776, as A.B., on board the Augusta 64, Capt. Fras. Reynolds; and was Midshipman of that ship when she was blown up in action with the enemy on the coast of North America in Oct. 1777. Between Feb. 1779 and 1781 he was employed in the Channel in the Blenheim 90, Capts. Lord Shuldham and Fras. J. Hartwell, Cambridge 74, Capt. Lord Shuldham, and, as Acting-Lieutenant, in the Fox frigate, Capt. Thos. Windsor. He joined next, in 1795, the Melpomène 38, Capt. Sir Chas. Hamilton; and after serving for five years as Master’s Mate in the Agincourt 64, Capt. John Williamson, as Acting-Lieutenant in the Apollo frigate, Capts. Manby and Peter Halkett, again as Master’s Mate in the Firm, Capt. Campbell, and as A.B. in the Bristol and Wolf gun-brig, Lieut.-Commanders Hutchinson, Withers, and Robinson, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant 8 Oct. 1801, and appointed to the command, for a brief period, of the Blessing gun-brig at Sheerness. From Feb. 1804 until 1806 he commanded the Borer in the North Sea; and from 1807 until 1814 he was employed in the Transport service, three years of the time on shore in cooperation with the army in Spain and Portugal. His promotion to the rank of Commander took place 15 June, 1814. He remained thenceforward on half-pay.