Royal Naval Biography/Godfrey, William

2226356Royal Naval Biography — Godfrey, WilliamJohn Marshall


WILLIAM GODFREY, Esq.
A Companion of the Most Honorable Military Order of the Bath.
[Post-Captain of 1809.]

This officer served as a midshipman of the Culloden, on the memorable 1st June, 1794; and was senior Lieutenant of the Prince, a second rate, at the glorious battle of Trafalgar. His promotion to the rank of Commander took place Dec. 24, 1805.

In July 1807, we find Captain Godfrey commanding the Aetna bomb, and accompanying the fleet under Admiral Gambier to Copenhagen. The nature of the operations in which he was there engaged will be seen by reference to our memoir of Captain George Cocks, at p. 238 et seq. of this volume.

The Aetna was the only vessel of her class that assisted, or was even present, at the destruction of the French ships in Aix Roads, which anchorage she entered nearly half an hour before Lord Cochrane opened his fire, on the 12th April 1809. The following is an extract of the commander-in-chief’s official despatch:

“I should feel that I did not do justice to Captain Godfrey, of the Aetna, in bombarding the enemy’s ships on the 12th, and nearly all the day of the 13th, if I did not recommend him to their lordships’ notice.”

From the evidence given by this officer at the trial of Lord Gambier, it appears that the Aetna’s 13-inch mortar was split on the 13th, at night; and that she had fired away all her 10-inch shells by the evening of the 14th. He also deposed that she shifted her anchorage eight times for the purpose of bombarding the enemy more effectually, and that she did not quit the mouth of the Charente until the 29th. In consequence of the above recommendation, Captain Godfrey was advanced to post rank as soon as the investigation alluded to was over; by commission dated back to the 11th April.

Agent.– ___ M‘Inerheny, Esq.