# Royal Naval Biography/Prowse, William

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WILLIAM PROWSE, Esq Rear-Admiral of the Blue; and a Companion of the most honorable Military Order of the Bath.
This officer was a Master’s Mate on board the Albion, of 74 guns, commanded by Captain George Bowyer, in the action fought off Grenada, between Vice-Admiral Byron and ​the Count d’Estaing, July 6, 1779; and in Rodney’s battles with de Guiehen, off Martinique, on the 17th April, and 15th and 19th May, 1780. The Albion’s loss in those several engagements, amounted to 27 men killed and 128 wounded; among the latter of whom was Mr. Prowse, who received a large splinter in the head. He served in that ship during a period of six years, and behaved so well on all occasions, as to draw from his commander the warmest commendations. In 1782, Rear-Admiral Digby appointed him to act as a Lieutenant in the Cyclops, a small frigate, on the North-American station; from which period we lose sight of him till the early part of the French revolutionary war, when he received an appointment to the Barfleur, of 98 guns, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Bowyer, in the Channel fleet.
During the memorable action of June 1, 1794, in which his patron had the misfortune to lose a leg, Mr. Prowse was very severely wounded by a large shot, which, after disabling the gun he was then in the act of pointing, struck him on the thigh, and tore away a great portion of the flesh. Indeed, the injury he received was so great as to render it necessary for him to be sent on shore to an hospital; from whence, on his recovery, he joined the Theseus, of 74 guns, as first Lieutenant, and in that ship again visited the West Indies.
We next find our officer proceeding with Sir John Jervis, in the Lively frigate, to the Mediterranean station, where he obtained the rank of Commander in the Raven sloop of war, which vessel was one of the repeaters to the British fleet in the battle off Cape St. Vincent, Feb. 14, 1797. From her he was removed by Sir John into the Salvador del Mundo, a Spanish 3-decker taken on that occasion; an appointment that appears to have met with the approbation of the Admiralty, his post commission being confirmed by the Board on the 6th of the following month.
In 1800, Captain Prowse was selected by Sir Robert Calder, with whom he had before served in the Theseus, to command his flag-ship, the Prince of Wales, a second-rate, and he accordingly accompanied that officer to the West Indies in quest of a French squadron, supposed to have gone thither ​from Brest, but which had altered its course and entered the Mediterranean. He returned to England June 22, 1802, and in the month of August following, was appointed to the Sirius frigate, in which, on the renewal of hostilities in 1803, he made several valuable captures.
During the summer of 1805, the Sirius was employed in watching the port of Ferrol; and in the encounter between Sir Robert Calder’s fleet, to which she was attached, and the combined squadrons of France and Spain, had 2 men killed and 3 wounded. Captain Prowse was afterwards placed under the orders of Lord Nelson, and was one of the last persons with whom that great commander ever conversed, being with him on board the Victory for several hours previous to the commencement of the battle of Trafalgar, and remaining by his side until within gun-shot of the enemy’s line.
Our officer was subsequently employed in the Mediterranean, under the orders of Lord Collingwood, to whose favorable notice he recommended himself by his exertion and zeal on many occasions, but particularly by the gallantry evinced by him, April 17, 1806, in attacking a very formidable flotilla of the enemy off the mouth of the Tiber, and compelling the French Commodore to surrender.
The flotilla consisted of one ship, three brigs, and five heavy gun-vessels, mounting on the whole 76 long guns, and 21 carronades (2 of which were 68-pounders) . These vessels, when attacked by Captain Prowse, were lying to in compact order of battle, within two leagues of the mouth of the river, and near a dangerous shoal. The action was commenced within pistol-shot, and continued with great vigour on both sides for two hours, when the ship struck her colours. It being now 9 P.M. and the Sirius much crippled, owing to the smoothness of the water having enabled the enemy to use their guns with the greatest effect, Captain Prowse was prevented from pursuing the others, a circumstance much regretted by him, as several were greatly disabled previous to their sheering off, and had it been day-light would most probably have shared the fate of their leader. The prize proved to be la Bergere, of 18 long 12 pounders, 1 30-pounder carronade, and 189 men; a remarkably fine vessel, commanded ​by Chancy Duolvis, a Capitaine de Fregate, Commodore of Flotilla, and Member of the Legion of Honor. The loss sustained by the Sirius in this clashing affair, amounted to 9 killed and 20 wounded. Among the former was her Commander’s nephew, Mr. William Adair, Master’s Mate. For his distinguished conduct on this occasion, the Committee of the Patriotic Fund at Lloyd’s voted Captain Prowse a sword or vase, at his option, value 100l. The sum of 360l. was at the same time directed to be distributed amongst his wounded officers and men.
In the spring of 1810, our officer was appointed to the Theseus, of 74 guns; and he continued to command that ship in the North Sea during the remainder of the war. He was nominated a C.B. June 4, 1815; obtained a Colonelcy of Royal Marines Aug. 12, 1819; and became a Rear-Admiral July 19, 1821.
Residence.– 3, Tonbridge Place, New Road.
* ↑ See note †, at p. 103, et seq.
* ↑ See note *, at p. 720.
* ↑ See p. 405.
* ↑ See p. 647.