# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Stanley, William Pearce

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​STANLEY. (Capt., 1838. f-p., 27; h-p., 22.)
William Pearce Stanley entered the Navy, 12 March, 1798, as Midshipman, on board the Diomede 50, commanded by the late Hon. Chas. Elphinstone Fleeming, at first in the North Sea and East Indies and then at the Cape of Good Hope, where he removed, in Feb. 1801, to the Adamant 50, Capt. Wm. Hotham. Between the ensuing Oct. and Oct. 1805 he served, on the Home station, in the Unité 36, Capt. Thos. Harvey, Trusty 50, Capt. Dan. Oliver Guion, Conflict 10, Lieut.-Commanders John Sibrell and Chas. Fegen, and, as Master’s Mate, in the Egyptienne 40, Capt. Hon. C. E. Fleeming. While in the latter ship he assisted at the capture of L’Epervier of 16 guns and 90 men, L’Actéon of 16 guns and 126 men, and La Chiffonette privateer of 14 guns and 80 men. He was also present in Sir Robt. Calder’s action 22 July, 1805. On leaving the Egyptienne he sailed, in the Hind, Capt. Fras. Wm. Fane, for the port of Cadiz; whence, on his removal to the Superb 74, Capt. Rich. Goodwin Keats, he proceeded, in pursuit of a French squadron, to the West Indies. After sharing, in the Northumberland 74, flag-ship of Hon. Alex. Cochrane, in the battle fought off St. Domingo, he was successively, 13 March and 15 April, 1806, ​nominated Acting-Lieutenant of the Dolphin 44, Capts. Thos. Tudor Tucker and Dan. Tandy, and Pheasant 18, Capts. Robt. Henderson and John Palmer. Being confirmed to the Pheasant 15 Aug. in the same year, he continued to serve in that vessel as Senior Lieutenant on the South American, African, Home, and Newfoundland stations, until 31 Aug. 1814. In Jan. 1807 his Captain, Palmer, having landed with the army to assist at the siege of Monte Video, he was left in command of the sloop, and was employed in her in blockading the Spanish gun-vessels at that place. He afterwards landed with the troops under Lieut.-Colonel Dennis Pack, and aided in taking possession of Colonia del Sacramento. The Pheasant, while he was in her, made prize, 8 May, 1808, 3 Feb. 1810, and 17 June, 1811, of the French privateers Tropard of 5 guns and 62 men, le Comte de Hunebourg of 14 guns and 53 men, and Le Héros of 6 guns and 40 men; and, 12 March and 6 May, 1813, of the American letters-of-marque William Bayard of 4 guns and 30 men, and Fox of 8 guns and 29 men – the former taken in company with the Warspite 74, the latter in company with the Scylla sloop and Whiting schooner. In May and Sept. 1815, Mr. Stanley was appointed First of the Ethalion 42 and Tiber 38, Capts. Wm. Hugh Dobbie and Jas. Rich. Dacres. He served in those ships on the coast of Ireland, again at Newfoundland, and in the Channel, until paid off 18 Sept, 1818; and on 14 April, 1819, he was placed in command of the {sc|Swallow}} Revenue-cutter, of 165 tons, mounting 6 six-pounder carronades and 2 small brass guns, with a complement of 37 men and boys. In her he captured, 27 Feb. 1821, after a long chase and running fight, in which two of his people were wounded, the Idas smuggling cutter, having on board 700 tubs of spirits and about 50 bales of tobacco, the greater part whereof was thrown, during the chase, overboard, as were the guns, supposed to be nine-pounders. When the Swallow got alongside at night she found her prize abandoned by the crew, about 30 in number, 3 of whom had been killed and several wounded. Both vessels suffered severely in sails and rigging. For his conduct Mr. Stanley gained the approbation of Sir John Gore, the Commander-in-Chief, as also of the Lords of the Admiralty and the Treasury Board; and on 19 July following was advanced to the rank of Commander. He afterwards, from 28 Oct. 1833 until Feb. 1837, and from 14 Feb. 1838 until Feb. 1839, officiated, as Second-Captain, on the Mediterranean and North American stations, of the Edinburgh and Malabar 74’s, Capts. J. R. Dacres and Edw. Harvey; to the former of whom, now a Rear-Admiral, he has been, since 14 Aug. 1845, Flag-Captain in the President 50, at the Cape of Good Hope. His Post commission bears date 28 June, 1838.
Capt. Stanley is married, and has issue one son and two daughters.