William Prowse CB RN (1753 - 1826)

Born 1753 in Devon, England [uncertain]

Died 23 Mar 1826 at about age 73 in St Pancras, London, England

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Biography

William Prowse CB RN is Notable.

William Prowse was born about 1753, possibly son of John Prowse and his wife, Dorothy Abbot.

As a lieutenant in 1794 he was serving aboard Lord Howe's flagship the 98 gun Barfleur at the Glorious First of June. He was so badly injured that he had a leg amputated. ^[1] He is said to have had very little break with his injury for the Dictionary of National Biography records him serving with Calder aboard Theseus from July 1794.^[2]

On the 4th of August 1804 he was posted to HMS Sirius on which vessel he served at the Battle of Trafalgar in October 1805. ^[3]

On 4th June 1815 William was appointed a Companion of the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath. ^[4]

He passed away in 1826 ^[5] and was buried at the St Pancras Parish Chapel on the 1st of April. ^[6]

Research note

Determining William's parentage has not been simple. No primary sources have as yet been found.

It is said that he was uncle of Royal Marine Captain Charles William Adair ^[7][8] who died aboard HMS Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar. ^[9]

Charles William Adair was son of Benjamin and Susanna Adair. ^[9] To make the family connection Susanna Adair must have been sister to William Prowse.

A Susanna Prouse daughter of John Prouse was baptised at Saltash in Cornwall on the 28th of February 1749. ^[10]

Sources

1. ↑ " The Trafalgar Companion " Mark Adkin, Aurum Press 2005 ISBN 1 84513 0189
2. ↑ Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 46 Prowse, William (1752?-1826) by John Knox Laughton
3. ↑ Trafalgar Ancestors: William Prowse
4. ↑ The London Gazette No 17061
5. ↑ "Rear Admiral William Prowse," The Morning Post (London, England), 10 April 1826, page 1, column 2.
6. ↑ London, England, Church of England Deaths and Burials, 1813-2003 (St Pancras Parish Chapel Rear Admiral William Prowse of Tonbridge Place 1 April 1826)
7. ↑ Royal Marines History: Captain of Marines Charles William Adair
8. ↑ Clayton, Tim; Craig, Phil (2004). Trafalgar: The Men, the Battle, the Storm. London: Hodder. ISBN 0-340-83028-X.
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} The National Archives Trafalgar Ancestors: Charles William Adair
10. ↑ England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 FHL Film Number 90267 (St Stephens By Saltash, Cornwall, England 28 Feb 1749 Susanna Prouse daughter of John Prouse and Dorothy) Viewed at Ancestry. Text only

• Wikipedia: William Prowse