Royal Naval Biography/Parkinson, William Standway

2207515Royal Naval Biography — Parkinson, William StandwayJohn Marshall


WILLIAM STANDWAY PARKINSON, Esq.
[Post-Captain of 1808.]

{{sc|This} officer is said to have been “one of the earliest followers of Nelson,” to whose notice he was recommended by Captain (now Sir Charles Morice) Pole, Bart.[1]. He received his first commission in 1704; served as junior Lieutenant of the Dido 28, in her gallant action with la Minerve French frigate, June 24, 1795[2], and was third of Nelson’s flag-ship at the defeat of the French fleet in Aboukir bay, Aug. 1, 1798. His promotion to the rank of Commander took place Aug 12, 1799.

Captain Parkinson subsequently commanded the Zebra bomb and Merlin sloop, on the North Sea station; and the Favorite sloop, employed under Sir Alexander Cochrane, at the Leeward Islands. He was advanced to post rank (on his arrival at the Admiralty with the despatches announcing the surrender of the Danish West India colonies) Feb. 9, 1808. He married, in 1800, the only daughter of the Rev. Edward Clarke, of Uckfield, Sussex.

Agents.– Messrs. Stilwell.



  1. See Nav. Chron. Vol. 19, p. 144.
  2. See Vol. II., Part I., p. 86.