William Dickson (c.1728-1803)

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William Dickson

NationalityBritish
RolesNaval Sailor
Date of Birthc.1728ADM 107/4
First Known Service16.6.1745CSORN
FatherArchibald Dicksonref:676
WifeJane Collingwoodref:1045
WifeElizabeth Charteris - Married 1786ref:1045
SonJamesref:1045
SonWilliam (d.1795)ref:1045
Sonref:1045
SonAlexanderref:1045
DaughterJane [Dickson]ref:1045
DaughterEleanorref:1045
SonJamesref:1045
Sonref:1045
DaughterMary Anneref:1045
SonRowlandref:1045
SonRobertref:1045
DaughterLouisaref:1045
Brotherref:676
BrotherJohnref:1045
SisterMary [Smith]ref:1045
SisterElizabeth [Ball]ref:1045
Last Known Service14.2.1799CSORN
Date of Death5.1803TRN3

Event History

Date from	Date to	Event	Source
6.12.1751		Passed the Lieutenant's Examination ADM 107/4/227	RNLPC
31.12.1755		Lieutenant	CSORN
10.5.1765		Commander	ADM 6/20
10.5.1765	20.6.1765	Swallow (14) 1745-1769 British 14 Gun Unrated Sloop , Commander, and Commanding Officer ADM 6/20/74	ADM 6/20
2.5.1766		Captain	CSORN
2.5.1766	19.12.1769	Jersey (60) 1736-1783 British 60 Gun 4th Rate Ship of the Line , Captain, and Commanding Officer ADM 6/20/117	BWAS-1714
1.7.1779	24.9.1779	Included in the list of captains receiving half-pay.	ADM 104
25.9.1779	20.4.1780	Greyhound (28) 1773-1781 British 28 Gun 6th Rate Frigate , Captain, and Commanding Officer ADM 6/22/30	ADM 104
17.4.1780		Battle of Martinique
18.4.1780	16.6.1780	Terrible (74) 1762-1781 British 74 Gun 3rd Rate Ship of the Line , Captain, and Commanding Officer: On board from 20.4.1780 ADM 6/22/261 Issued by Sir George Brydges Rodney (Baronet )British Naval Sailor Service 1740-1782 , Barbados Confirmed 14.3.1781	BWAS-1714
16.6.1780	6.2.1781	Conqueror (74) 1773-1794 British 74 Gun 3rd Rate Ship of the Line , Captain, and Commanding Officer ADM 6/22/217 Issued by Sir George Brydges Rodney (Baronet )British Naval Sailor Service 1740-1782 , Barbados Confirmed 25.12.1780	BWAS-1714
25.4.1781	15.1.1782	Sampson (64) 1781-1832 British 64 Gun 3rd Rate Ship of the Line , Captain, and Commanding Officer ADM 6/22/278	BWAS-1714
26.9.1782	18.4.1783	Standard (64) 1782-1816 British 64 Gun 3rd Rate Ship of the Line , Captain, and Commanding Officer ADM 6/22/521	BWAS-1714
18.4.1783	26.6.1786	Standard (64) 1782-1816 British 64 Gun 3rd Rate Ship of the Line , Captain, and Commanding Officer ADM 6/23/52	ADM 6/23
6.10.1790	7.12.1790	Gibraltar (80) 1780-1836 British 80 Gun 3rd Rate Ship of the Line , Captain, and Commanding Officer ADM 6/24/74	ADM 6/24
1.2.1793		Rear-Admiral of the Blue	CSORN
12.4.1794		Rear-Admiral of the White	CSORN
4.7.1794		Vice-Admiral of the Blue	CSORN
1.6.1795		Vice-Admiral of the White	CSORN
14.2.1799		Admiral of the Blue	CSORN

Notes on Officer

Jane Collingwood (1740-1782)ref:719

Jane Collingwood, the first wife of William Dickson, was an 8th cousin of Cuthbert Collingwood (1748-1810)

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

ADM 104 Document

ADM 107/4 Archive

ADM 6/20 Archive

ADM 6/23 Archive

ADM 6/24 Archive

BWAS-1714Rif Winfield, Book

CSORNDavid Bonner-Smith, Robert L. DiNardo, David Syrett, Web Site

RNLPCBruno Pappalardo, Book

TRN3William Laird Clowes, Digital Book

ref:1045John Debrett, Digital Book

ref:676 Web Site

ref:719 Family History

Previous comments on this page

Posted by David Connelly on Saturday 3rd of February 2024 08:17

Where is Admiral William Dickson buried?

Posted by Cy on Thursday 9th of May 2019 19:52

One other thing, in September 1779 Archibald was listed as in receipt of half-pay, ADM 104 is the source for that.

Posted by Cy on Thursday 9th of May 2019 17:06

Archibald Dickson was Captain of the Greyhound before William, who superceeded him. Probably the cause of the confusion.

Posted by Cy on Thursday 9th of May 2019 17:04

The commission quoted ADM 6/22/30 quite clearly shows William being commissioned a captain of the Greyhound on 25 Sept 1779. I will always favour a primary source like this over any number of secondary 'authorities'. William was moved into the Terrible the day after the battle which can't just be a coincidence, can it?

Posted by helen on Thursday 9th of May 2019 16:30

Many thanks for taking the time and trouble to write about this officer. However, I do not believe he commanded the Greyhound at the Battle of Martinique - several sources say it was his brother, Sir Archibald Dickson, who did so. I wonder whether William Dickson fought in any other battles please as he is one of my distant relatives and I would like to be able to add any battles to the family history I am researching. Can you help please.

Many thanks
Helen

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