# Royal Naval Biography/Shirreff, William Henry

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WILLIAM HENRY SHIRREFF, Esq. [Post-Captain of 1809.]
Son of the late General Shirreff; was made a Lieutenant March 3, 1804, and promoted to the command of the Lily sloop, on the Leeward Islands station, March 3, 1800; but he did not join that vessel until the close of the same year.
​In March 1808, Captain Shirreff assisted at the capture of Deseada, – a service thus described by his senior officer, in a letter to Sir Alexander Cochrane:
“H.M.S. Cerberus, at Deseada, March 30.
“On the 29th instant I weighed from Marie Galante, with the vessels named in the margin; and on the 30th, at 3-30 P.M., the boats, under the command of Captain Shirreff, with a detachment of seamen and marines from each vessel, under their respective commanders (who gallantly volunteered their services on the occasion), stood towards the shore, which was defended by a battery of two 9-pounders, completely commanding the narrow entrance of the harbour, together with ihe national troops and militia, amounting to about 70 men, who opened their fire upon the boats, when I found it necessary to anchor the squadron with springs on the cables, and commence a cannonading, which soon silenced them, and at 4 o’clock the French flag was struck; the boats landed at 4-30, hoisted the British flag, and the whole island surrendered without further opposition. I have the satisfaction to acquaint you, that this capture has been effected without loss; the commandant, national officers, and troops, are made prisoners of war, and the militia have laid down their arms.
“I should not do justice to the merit of Captain Shirreff, were I not to express in the highest terms my entire approbation of his conduct, together with that of Captain (William) Ward, and all the officers and men employed on this service.
(Signed)“W. Selby.”
The inhabitants of Deseada having generally taken the oath of neutrality, and their batteries, containing 3 long 24-pounders, 4 nines, and 2 sixes being destroyed, Sir Alexander Cochrane did not leave any force on that island, but stationed the Lily, Express, and Mosambique there for its protection from the enemy’s cruisers, as well as to prevent the arrival of any troops from Guadaloupe. On the 21st of the following month, Captain Shirreff’s little squadron captured le Jean Jacques, French letter of marque, pierced for 18 guns, but with only 6 long 9-pounders mounted. This vessel had been sent from Bourdeaux for the express purpose of cruising in the Caribbean seas; and from her superior sailing, she would most likely have proved a great annoyance to the British ​merchants, one of whose brigs had been taken by her, but was recaptured by the boats of the Lily and her consorts.
Captain Shirreff was posted into the Garland 22, on the Jamaica station, Nov. 15, 1809; and appointed to the Barrosa, a new frigate, Oct. 25, 1812. In the following year we find him serving on the coast of North America, where he continued until the conclusion of the war. His last appointment was, Sept. 10, 1817, to the Andromache 44, in which ship he returned home from the South American station, Aug. 31, 1821.
This officer married, June 29, 1810, Elizabeth, eldest daughter of the late Honourable David Murray, uncle to the present Lord Elibank. Agents.– Messrs. Cooke, Halford, and Son.
* ↑ Cerberus frigate, Lily and Pelican sloops, Express and Swinger gun-brigs, and Mosambique schooner.
* ↑ The small vessels under Captain Selby’s orders were commanded by Lieutenants William Dowers, Thomas Fellowes, and J. Jackson.
* ↑ See Vol. II, Part II, p. 644, and note at the bottom.
* ↑ An account of the Andromache’s voyage from Valparaiso to New South Shetland, was published by Mr. Edward Bransfield, Master R.N., in 1821.