A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Wilson, Henry Smith
WILSON. (Commander, 1821.)
Henry Smith Wilson died 22 Dec. 1844, at Andover.
This officer entered the Navy, 10 May, 1793, as a Boy, on board the Concorde 36, Capts. Thos. Wells and Sir Rich. John Strachan; on rejoining the former of whom, as Midshipman, in the Melampus 36, he assisted, when in company with a squadron under Sir John Borlase Warren, at the capture of La Pomone of 44 guns and 341 men, Le Babet of 22 guns and 178 men, and L’Engageante of 38 guns and 300 men. On quitting the Melampus, which frigate had been latterly commanded by Sir R. J. Strachan, he was received, in Oct. 1794, on board the Defence 74, and in that ship he continued employed under the command of Capts. Wells, Wm. Brown, and John Peyton, until nominated, in Nov. 1798, Acting-Lieutenant of the Aboukir 74, Capt. Bowen, off Lisbon. He was in consequence present in Hotham’s second partial action, 13 July, 1795; also at the blockade of the Texel; and as Master’s Mate at the battle of the Nile, 1 Aug. 1798. He was confirmed a Lieutenant, 9 Sept. 1799, into the Bellona 74, Capts. Sir Thos. Boulden Thompson and Thos. Bertie, in which ship he cruized in the Channel, fought in the action off Copenhagen 2 April, 1801, and visited the West Indies. He was subsequently (after nine months of half-pay) appointed – 26 April, 1803, to the Unicorn 32, Capt. Lucius Ferdinand Hardyman, with whom he served in the North Sea, at Newfoundland, and in the West Indies and Rio de la Plata until Oct. 1807 – 16 and 31 Aug. 1808, to the Inflexible 64, Capts. Hon. Donald Hugh Mackay and Thos. Brown, and Badger sloop, Capt. John Lampen Manley, both lying at Chatham – 23 April, 1810, for about 12 months, to the Namur 74, flag-ship of Sir Henry Edwin Stanhope at the Nore – 23 Oct. 1812, to the command of the Bahama prison-ship at Chatham, where he remained exactly two years – and, 7 Nov. 1818, to the command of the Surly cutter of 6 guns, at Sheerness. When Senior of the Unicorn he took command, 6 May, 1805, of the boats belonging to that frigate and effected the capture, near St. Domingo, after a pull of many hours, and in the face of a strong opposition, of the Tape-à-bord French privateer, mounting 4 6-pounders, with a complement of 46 well-armed men.[1] He also assisted at the storming of Monte Video In Feb. 1807. He was promoted from the Surly to the rank of Commander 19 July, 1821; but did not again go afloat.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1805, p. 801.