William Chambers

Posted by Nicholas DAVIS on Thursday 10th of January 2019 16:09

Recently purchased ephemera on this Royal Navy family.
Can we make contact to discuss?

Posted by RICHARD MACNEIL on Saturday 22nd of September 2018 06:02

[from Royal Naval Biography 1823 by John Marshall]

WILLIAM CHAMBERS, Esq
[Superannuated Rear-Admiral.]

This officer is the fifth son of the late Thomas Chambers, Esq., of Studley, in Warwickshire; at which place, and at Tanworth, in the same county, his family have resided, on their own estates, ever since the reign of Edward III. He entered the naval service in 1758, as a Midshipman, on board the Shrewsbury of 74 guns, under the auspices of Captain, (afterwards Admiral) Sir Hugh Palliser, with whom he served at the reduction of Quebec in 1759, and until the conclusion of the war in 1763[1].

During the ensuing peace, we find Mr. Chambers serving in the Preston of 50 guns, commanded by Captain Alan Gardner, and bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Parry, commander-in-chief on the Jamaica station. He subsequently joined Commodore Gambier in the Salisbury; and by that officer was made a Lieutenant into the Mermaid frigate, on the coast of North America, in 1771; but some time after re-joined his patron, and returned with him to England.

At the commencement of the American war, Mr. Chambers was appointed second Lieutenant of the Active frigate, one of the squadron under Sir Peter Parker, destined to act against Charlestown, in South Carolina; which ship had the honor of leading her consorts to the attack made on Sullivan’s Island, June 28, 1776[2]. The Active, on that occasion, had her first Lieutenant (Pike) killed, and 8 men wounded.

From the Active, our officer removed as first Lieutenant, into the Montreal frigate, Captain Douglas; and in June 1778, he was nominated to the command of the flotilla on Lake Champlain, where he continued till the peace in 1783, when he was sent home with despatches from Sir Frederick Haldimand, the military commander-in-chief; through whose recommendations he was immediately promoted to the rank of Commander; and a statement of his meritorious conduct on many trying occasions being subsequently laid before the King, he was rewarded with a commission as Post-Captain, dated Aug. 15th in the same year. His superannuation as a Rear-Admiral took place Nov. 21, 1805.

Residence.– Rugby, Warwickshire.

Posted by Bob Brooks on Sunday 11th of August 2013 14:30

According to the Admiralty Sea Pay List for 1783 (ADM 8/59, 01 Sep 1783) his first command as a Captain was the new HMS Rose, 6th rate, 28 guns.