OpenLLM-France/wikimedia huggingface dataset:
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Simmons, Edward

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​SIMMONS. (Lieut., 1811. f-p., 13; h-p., 31.)
Edward Simmons was born in March, 1790, at Gillingham, co. Kent.
This officer entered the Navy, 21 March, 1803, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Minotaur 74, Capts. John Child Purvis and Chas. John Moore Mansfield; under the latter of whom he fought as Midshipman at the battle of Trafalgar, 21 Oct. 1805, and was present, in 1807, at the bombardment of Copenhagen. Being placed, on the surrender of the Danish capital, on board the Neptunos 80, he had the misfortune while in that ship to be wrecked and to lose all he possessed. He joined next, in Dec. 1807, the Astraea 32, Capt. Edm. Heywood, on the West India station; where, while under the temporary command of Lieut. Edm. Potenger Greenlaw, he was again wrecked, on a coral reef off the island of Anagada, 24 May, 1808, and a second time lost his all. He served subsequently in the Jason and Ethalion frigates, both commanded by Sir Thos. John Cochrane, Ulysses 44, Capt. Hon. Warwick Lake, Franchise 36, Capt. John Allen, Bellona 74, Capt. John Erskine Douglas, Galatea 42, Capt. Woodley Losack, President frigate, Capt. Sam. Warren, Scipion 74, flag-ship of Hon. Sir Robt. Stopford, and Galatea again, Capt. W. Losack. In 1809 he assisted, in the Ethalion, at the capture of Martinique, and (with his name on the books of the Ulysses) commanded a gun-boat during the operations in the Scheldt. In the Galatea, of which ship he was confirmed a Lieutenant after having acted for upwards of two months as such, 14 May, 1811, he took part, 20 of the latter month (while cruizing off Madagascar, in company with the Astraea and Phoebe frigates, about equal in force to the Galatea and 18-gun brig Racehorse) in a long and trying action with the French 40-gun frigates Renommée, Clorinde, and Néréide, in which the Galatea, besides being much damaged in her hull, masts, and rigging, sustained a loss of 16 men killed and 46 wounded. He afterwards visited the West Indies and Newfoundland He left the Galatea in Nov. 1815; and was lastly, from Feb. 1830 until April, 1831, employed in the Coast Blockade as Supernumerary-Lieutenant of the Talavera 74, Capts. Hugh Pigot and David Colly.
The Lieutenant is married. Agents – Messrs. Ommanney.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Simmons, George Valentine

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​SIMMONS. (Lieut., 1815. f-p., 14; h-p., 30.)
George Valentine Simmons entered the Navy, in April, 1803, on board the Salvador del Mundo, Capts. Chas. Henry Lane, Cooke, and John Loring, lying at Portsmouth, where he remained for three years. He then, in May, 1806, joined the Ferret 18, Capt. Hon. Geo. Cadogan, on the West India ​station; where, in Nov. 1807 (after he had again been for three months employed at Portsmouth as Midshipman in the Salvador del Mondo), he became attached to the Captain 74, Capt. Isaac Wolley, and, in Nov. 1808, to the York 74, Capt. Robt. Barton. In that ship he assisted at the capture of Martinique, the Saintes, and the 74-gun ship D’Haupoult, accompanied the expedition to the Walcheren, and then proceeded to the Mediterranean. From Oct. 1812 until Aug. 1815, when he took up a commission bearing date 10 of the preceding March, he served in South America, on the coast of France, and on the Canadian lakes, as Master’s Mate, in the Hermes 20, Capt. Philip Browne, Warspite 74, Capt. Lord Jas. O’Bryen, and Confiance sloop, Capt. Geo. Downie. His last appointment was, 30 July, 1825, to the Coast Blockade, in which service he continued for upwards of 12 months as Supernumerary-Lieutenant of the Ramillies 74, Capts. Wm. M‘Culloch and Hugh Pigot.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Simpkinson, Francis Guillemard

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​SIMPKINSON. (Lieutenant, 1845. f-p., 11; h-p., 4.)
Francis Guillemard Simpkinson, born 26 May, 1819, is son of Sir John Augustus Fras. Simpkinson, Kt., Q.C., by Mary, daughter of John Griffin, Esq., of Bedford Place, London, and sister-in-law of Capt Sir John Franklin, R.N., Kt., K.C.H.
This officer entered the Navy, 16 March, 1832, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Britannia 120, Capt. Peter Rainier, under whom he was for three years employed on the Lisbon and Mediterranean stations. On his return to England in the early part of 1835 he joined, in the capacity of Midshipman (a rating he had previously attained), the Jupiter 38, Capt. Edw. Henry A’Court, fitting for the conveyance of ​Lord Heytesbury as Governor-General to India. That nobleman’s appointment being, however, cancelled in consequence of a change of Ministry, and the Jupiter being paid off, Mr. Simpkinson was received, in Oct. of the same year, on board the Sulphur surveying-vessel, Capt. Fred. Wm. Beechey, then on the point of sailing for South America; where, on his removal to the Samarang 28, Capt. Wm. Broughton, he was present, it appears, at Bahia during the insurrection of the black population, and at Callao during the hostilities between Chili and Peru in 1839. In Feb. 1840, having passed his examination 17 Sept. 1838, he was appointed Mate of the Excellent gunnery-ship at Portsmouth, Capt. Sir Thos. Hastings; and in the following Aug. he was admitted to the Royal Naval College. After he had studied for a period of 12 months at that institution, and distinguished himself as second on the list at the general examination, he joined in succession, in Aug. and Sept. 1841, the Warspite 50, and, as Gunnery Mate, the Cambrian 36, Capts. Lord John Hay and Henry Ducie Chads. By the latter officer, on the arrival of the Cambrian in China, he was sent on shore with a party of seamen to assist at the defence of the island of Chusan. He returned to England in Sept. 1842; and was next, between Sept. 1843 and Feb. 1844, employed on Home service in his former ship the Excellent, and in the Albion 90, Capt. Nich. Lockyer. Since the date last mentioned he has been attached to the Royal Magnetic Observatory at Hobart Town, V.D.L. His commission bears date 9 Dec. 1845.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Sidney, Frederick William

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​SIDNEY. (Lieutenant, 1842.)
Frederick William Sidney entered the Navy 17 April, 1833; passed his examination 17 April, 1839; and from 1840 until the summer of 1842 was employed on the Niger expedition in the Soudan and Wilberforce steamers, Capts. Bird Allen and Wm. Allen. He was made Lieutenant into the latter vessel by a commission bearing date 31 Jan. 1842. His next appointments were – 20 Dec. 1842, to the Styx steam surveying-sloop, Capt. Alex. Thos. Emeric Vidal, stationed among the Azores – 14 April, 1845, as Additional, after a few months of half-pay, to the Cyclops steam-frigate, Capt. Wm. Fred. Lapidge, on the south-east coast of America – and, 1 Dec. following, in a similar capacity, to the Crocodile 8, Capt. Geo. Lowe, engaged on particular service. He has been on half-pay since the close of 1846.
He married, in 1842, Miss Sydney, of Newport. Agents – Messrs. Stilwell.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Simeon, Charles

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​SIMEON. (Captain, 1827.)
Charles Simeon is third and youngest son of the late Sir John Simeon, Bart., M.P., and Senior Master of the Court of Chancery, by Rebecca, eldest daughter of John Cornwall, Esq., of Hendon House, Middlesex; brother of the present Sir Rich. Godin Simeon, Bart.; and brother-in-law of Colonel Webber Smith, R.A., and of the late Sir Fred. Fras. Baker, Bart., F.R.S., F.S.A., of Loventor, co. Devon.
This officer entered the Navy, 28 Sept. 1805, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Repulse 74, Capts. Hon. Arthur Kaye Legge and John Halliday; under the former of whom he passed the Dardanells in Feb. 1807, and accompanied the expedition of 1809 to the Walcheren. In May, 1810, he removed as Midshipman (a rating he had attained in Aug. 1807) to the Topaze 38, Capt. Henry Hope, attached to the force in the Mediterranean; whence, towards the close of 1811, he returned to England in the Montagu 74, Capt. J. Halliday. In March, 1812 after his name had been borne for three months on the books of the Egmont and Namur 74’s, Thisbe 28, and Caledonia 120, he was received on board the Curaçoa 36, Capt. John Tower, again in the Mediterranean. On 2 June, 1812, he was made Lieutenant into the Sparrowhawk sloop; hut before he could join that vessel he had the misfortune, ​while detached in the Curaçoa’s boats, to fall, 30 July, into the hands of the enemy, by whom he was detained a prisoner until the end of the war. He subsequently, from June until Sept. 1814, served at Portsmouth in the Egmont 74, Capt. Joseph Bingham; and on 13 June, 1815, he was promoted to the rank of Commander. His next appointments were, 23 Oct. and 2 Nov. 1818, to the Mutine 16 and Arab 18; in the latter of which vessels he served for about three years on the Cork station. On the occasion of his advancement to Post-rank, 10 March, 1827, he obtained command of the Niemen 28, on the Halifax station. In 1847 he accepted the Retirement.
Capt. Simeon married, 5 July, 1821, Frances, second daughter of Thos. Woore, Esq., of Inch House, co. Donegal, by whom he has issue.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Simkin, John

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​SIMKIN. (Lieut., 1815. f-p., 10; h-p., 31.)
John Simkin was born 18 Feb. 1792. He is brother of Retired Commander Thos. Allen Simkin, R.N.
This officer entered the Navy, 15 April, 1806, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Racehorse 18, Capts. Robt. Forbes and Wm. Fisher, employed on the Mediterranean and Home stations, where, from Dec. 1807 until presented in Aug. 1815 with a commission bearing date 28 Feb. in that year, he served, principally in the capacity of Midshipman, in the Salvador del Mondo, flag-ship of Admiral Young, Cambrian 40, Capts. Rich. Budd Vincent and Fras. Wm. Fane, Kent 74, Capt. Thos. Rogers, Goshawk 16, Capts. Jas. Lilburn, Thos. Ball Clowes, and Hon. Wm. John Napier, Pilot 18, Capt. John Toup Nicolas, and Nautilus 18, Capts. Thos. Dench and John Bradley. In the Racehorse and Cambrian he was in frequent action with the enemy’s batteries on the coasts of France and Catalonia; and while in the Goshawk, in which vessel he continued from Oct. 1809 until Oct. 1812, he assisted in causing the self-destruction, 25 March, 1811, of the French 40-gun frigate Amazone, near Barfleur light-house, and on 7 Sept. following, when in company with the Barbadoes 24, chased into Calvados seven French gun-brigs (one of which was driven on shore), mounting 3 long 24-pounders and a mortar each, and manned with 75 men. Since he left the Nautilus he has been on half-pay.
Lieut. Simkin has been three times married, and has seven children.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Spettigue, Coryndon

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​SPETTIGUE. (Commander, 1838.)
Coryndon Spettigue died about the commencement of 1847.
This officer entered the Navy 20 April, 1812; passed his examination in 1819; obtained his first commission 17 March, 1826; served from 6 Nov. 1832 until 1837 in the Revenge 78, Capts. Hon. Donald Hugh Mackay and Wm. Elliott, on the Lisbon and Mediterranean stations; and from 25 July in the latter year until promoted to the rank of Commander 27 Dec. 1838, was employed as First-Lieutenant, at Home, again off Lisbon, and in North America and the West Indies, in the Edinburgh 72, Capt. Wm. Wilmott Henderson. He filled an appointment in the Coast Guard from 23 June, 1840, until 1845.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Spong, George

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​SPONG. (Commander, 1846. f-p., 21; h-p., 16.)
George Spong was born in 1796. He is nephew of the late gallant Capt. Chas. John Moore Mansfield, R.N.
This officer entered the Navy, 18 Feb. 1810, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Bellerophon 74, Capt. Sam. Warren, with whom, after having served off Flushing, he removed as Midshipman, in Aug. of the same year, to the President 38, and sailed for the East Indies, where he was actively employed, in the boats and otherwise, at the reduction of Java. On leaving the President, which ship had been latterly commanded by Capt. Fras. Mason, he was a second time, in June, 1813, placed under the orders of Capt. Warren in the Blenheim 74. In her and in the Castor 32, Capt. Chas. Dilkes, he was for about two years and three months stationed in the Mediterranean. He served next, between Dec. 1815 and March, 1817, at Chatham in the Bulwark 74,, Capt. Geo. M‘Kinley, and Arrogant hospital-ship, Lieut.-Commander Jas. James; and in July, 1819, at which period he had been again, for 12 months, employed in the East Indies in the Minden 74, flag-ship of Sir Rich. King, and Topaze frigate, Capt. John Rich. Lumley, he was nominated Acting-Lieutenant of the Liverpool 50, Capt. Fras. Augustus Collier; under whom we find him accompanying an expedition against the pirates of the Persian Gulf, and assisting, in Jan. 1820, at the capture of Ras-al-Khyma, their principal stronghold, and the destruction of its fortifications and shipping. He was in consequence confirmed a Lieutenant by a commission bearing date 7 of the month last mentioned; but owing to the severe exertion he had undergone, added to the effects of the climate, he was obliged, shortly afterwards, to invalid, and at his own expense. His subsequent appointments were – 30 Nov. 1822, to the Egeria 28, Capt. John Toup Nicolas, at Sheerness – 21 Feb. 1823, to the Fly 18, Capts. Edw. Curzon and Wm. Fanshawe Martin, in South America – 11 May, 1825, to the Prince Regent 120, flag-ship of Sir Robt. Moorsom in the river Medway, where he remained until 1827 – 1 1 Oct. 1834, for a few months, to the Coast Guard – 19 Aug. 1841, to the Poictiers 72, guard-ship at Chatham, Capt. Wm. Henry Shirreff, with whom he continued for rather more than three years – and 8 March, 1845, and 23 April, 1846, to the command of the Speedy cutter and Ardent steam-sloop, the former employed on particular service, the latter in the Mediterranean. He was advanced to his present rank 9 Nov. 1846.
In 1835 Commander Spong received, at the recommendation of Lord Auckland, the appointment of Stipendiary Magistrate in the West Indies, with the distinct assurance from his Lordship that his claims to promotion would be thereby strengthened. Owing to the apprenticeship-system he was under the necessity of returning to England two years sooner than he had anticipated, but not until he had lost the chance, which the Brevet accorded on the ​occasion of Her Majesty’s coronation might have afforded him of working his professional advancement.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Spurway, John

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​SPURWAY. (Lieut., 1814. f-p., 10; h-p., 33.)
John Spurway was born 28 Feb. 1791.
This officer entered the Navy, 6 Sept. 1804, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Windsor Castle 98, Capts. Davidge Gould and Chas. Boyles, stationed in the Channel; and from April, 1806, until Aug. 1812, was employed in the Belleisle and Northumberland 74’s, Capts. Wm. Hargood and Hon. Henry Hotham. In the Windsor Castle he assisted, as Midshipman, at the blockade of Brest; and in the Belleisle, after pursuing a French squadron to the West Indies, and encountering a violent hurricane, he contributed, 14 Sept. 1806, to the destruction, off Cape Henry, of the 74-gun ship Impétueux. In 1809, being at the time in the Northumberland, he aided, with a party of seamen, in refitting in Carthagena harbour, and in then conveying in safety to Gibraltar, the Ferdinand VII., a Spanish three-decker; and on 22 May, 1812, he was present, in company with the Growler gun-brig, at the destruction, at the entrance of L’Orient, of the French 40-gun frigates L’Arienne and L’Andromaque, and 16-gun brig Mamelouck, whose united fire, conjointly with that of a heavy battery, killed 5 and wounded 28 of the Northumberland’s people. After he left the latter ship Mr. Spurway served – from Dec. 1812 until April, 1813, in the Surprise 38, Capt. Sir Thos. John Cochrane, in the West Indies – from Aug. 1813 until Jan. 1814, latterly as Master’s Mate, in the Devonshire 74, Capt. Ross Donnelly – from 8 April, 1814, until he invalided 4 Oct. following, as Acting-Lieutenant, in the Emulous 14, Capt. Wm. M‘Kenzie Godfrey, again in the West Indies – and from 22 Feb. until 1 June, 1815, as Lieutenant (he had taken up, on leaving the Emulous, a commission dated 8 July, 1814), in the Myrmidon 20, Capts. Wm. Paterson and Robt. Gambier, on the Channel station. He has since been on half-pay.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Sprigg, George

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​SPRIGG. (Commander, 1844. f-p., 16; h-p., 6.)
George Sprigg entered the Navy, 22 Nov. 1825, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Doterel 18, Capts. Henry Edwards and Wm. Alex. Baillie Hamilton, in which vessel, and in the Grasshopper 18, Capt. Courtenay Edm. Wm. Boyle, he was for about two years employed on the coast of North America. He served next, from 1827 until 1832, in the Channel as Midshipman and Mate (he passed his examination in May of the latter year) in the Briton 46, Capt. Hon. Wm. Gordon, and Hermes steamer, Lieut.-Commander Andrew King; and after having been further employed on the West India and Home stations, in the capacity last mentioned, in the Serpent 16, Capt. John Chas. Symonds, and Hastings 72, Capt. Fras. Erskine Loch, he was promoted, 24 May, 1839, to the rank of Lieutenant, and appointed, 4 July following. Additional of the Melville 72, flag-ship of Hon. Geo. Elliot on the coast of Africa, where, and on the coast of Brazil, he held command, from 15 Dec. 1839 until 1842, and from 16 Sept. 1843 until the early part of 1844, of the Brisk 3 and Curlew 10. In those vessels he had the good fortune to capture, independently of numerous small craft, as many as 15 slavers, carrying in the whole upwards of 1400 negroes. He was promoted in consequence to his present rank 19 Dec. 1844. His last appointment was, 3 Feb. 1846, to the command, which he retained until paid off in the summer of 1847, of the Ferret 8, again on the African coast. Agents – Messrs. Halford and Co.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Spurin, John

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​SPURIN. (Lieut., 1815. f-p., 24; h-p., 23.)
John Spurin entered the Navy, in March, 1800, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Atlas 98, Capt. Theophilus Jones, attached to the Channel fleet. That ship being paid off in April, 1802, he joined next, 24 Aug. 1804, the Mediator frigate, Capts. Sir Thos. Livingstone, John Seater, Wm. Furlong Wise, Jas. Rich. Dacres, and Geo. Reynolds, employed on the Home and West India stations, where he served, from Dec. 1807 until Feb. 1813, in the Bellerophon 74, flag-ship of Rear-Admiral Bertie, Racoon sloop, Capts. Jas. Welsh and Wm. Black, and Lyra 10, Capt. Robt. Bloye. In the Mediator he assisted in taking, in the early part of 1807, the fort of Samana, St. Domingo, a notorious nest for privateers; and in the Lyra he actively co-operated, in the capacity of Master’s Mate, with the patriots on the north coast of Spain. From Feb. 1813 until April, 1814, he served in the Mediterranean in the Perseus 22, Capt. Edw. Henry A’Court; and from ​the latter period until presented, in Oct. 1815, with a commission bearing date 10 of the preceding March, he was again employed in the Channel in the Goldfinch and Pheasant sloops, both commanded by Capt. Edm. Waller. Since 7 Sept. 1836, he has been in charge of a station in the Coast Guard, he is married, and has issue.
# A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Spread, John Matthias

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​SPREAD. (Commander, 1798)
John Matthias Spread was born 22 March, 1765, and died in 1847.
This officer entered the Navy, in April, 1777, as Captain’s Servant, on board the Carysfort 28, Capt. Robt. Fanshawe, under whom he served for upwards of two years in North America and the West Indies in the same vessel and in the Monmouth 64. In the latter ship he fought as Midshipman, in July, 1779, in Byron’s action with the Comte d’Estaing. After cruizing for some months on the coast of Ireland in the Nemesis 28, Capt. Rich. Rodney Bligh, he returned, in 1782, to the West Indies in the Success 32, Capt. Chas. Morice Pole, and continued to serve on that station as Acting-Lieutenant, from 1783 until 1785, in the Preston 50, flag-ship of Rear-Admiral Rowley, Jamaica and Ariel sloops, Capts. Manley Dixon and Jas. Norman, and Ulysses 44, Capt. Edw. O’Brien. He was next, in 1790, received as Midshipman on board the Queen Charlotte 100, flagship of Lord Howe at Spithead; and on 3 Nov. in the same year he was officially promoted. His succeeding appointments were – 3 Dec. 1792, to the Hermione 32, Capt. John Hills, part of the force employed at the reduction of St. Domingo – 1 Sept. 1794, to the Europa 50, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral John Ford, in which ship he returned to England – 4 Sept. and 22 Nov. 1795, and 24 Feb. 1796, to the Prince George and Glory 98’s, and Thunderer 74, flag-ships of Sir Hugh Cloberry Christian, with whom, after having encountered two terrific gales, which each time compelled the Admiral to return to port, he again sailed for the West Indies – and, 15 Nov. 1796, to the Queen 98, bearing the flag there of Sir Hyde Parker. While serving in the ship last mentioned Mr. Spread took command of her boats and of those of a squadron. and succeeded in destroying a privateer schooner and in retaking an American brig, her prize. On 21 June, 1798, he was ordered to act as Captain of La Prompte 20, on the Bahama station, where he remained until he joined, in March, 1799, the Rattler sloop, to the command of which vessel he had been promoted by a commission bearing the same date as his Acting Post order, 21 June, 1798. In her he made prize of a French privateer of 10 guns and 42 men and of a Spanish gun-vessel, and was for some time previously to his return to England, in July, 1802, employed off Honduras, the resident settlers at which place presented him on his departure with an address expressive of their acknowledgments for “the most honourable, disinterested, and praiseworthy manner in which he had discharged the duties of his station,” and for the “humanity to which they were chiefly indebted for subsistence at a time of the most alarming scarcity.” While employed, in 1804, in the Sea Fencibles on the coast of Ireland, Commander Spread was appointed to the Elk sloop, but the effects of long service in the West Indies (13 or 14 years) had so impaired his health that he was not only unable to join, but was ultimately deprived of the sight of both eyes. He was admitted to the out-pension of Greenwich Hospital 6 Dec. 1833.
He was married, and has left issue.