William Dickson (c.1728-1803)

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William Dickson

NationalityBritish 
RolesNaval Sailor 
Date of Birthc.1728ADM 107/4
First Known Service16.6.1745CSORN
FatherArchibald Dicksonref:676
WifeJane Collingwoodref:1045
WifeElizabeth Charteris - Married 1786ref:1045
SonJamesref:1045
SonWilliam (d.1795)ref:1045
SonSir Archibald Collingwood Dickson (1772-1827)ref:1045
SonAlexanderref:1045
DaughterJane [Dickson]ref:1045
DaughterEleanorref:1045
SonJamesref:1045
SonDavid John Dicksonref:1045
DaughterMary Anneref:1045
SonRowlandref:1045
SonRobertref:1045
DaughterLouisaref:1045
BrotherSir Archibald Dickson (1st Baronet of Hardingham Hall) (c.1739-1803)ref:676
BrotherJohnref:1045
SisterMary [Smith]ref:1045
SisterElizabeth [Ball]ref:1045
Last Known Service14.2.1799CSORN
Date of Death5.1803TRN3

Event History


Date fromDate toEventSource
6.12.1751 Passed the Lieutenant's ExaminationRNLPC
31.12.1755 Lieutenant ADM 6/18/223CSORN
10.5.1765 Commander ADM 6/20/74ADM 6/20
10.5.176520.6.1765Swallow (14), Commander and Commanding Officer ADM 6/20/74ADM 6/20
2.5.1766 Captain ADM 6/20/117CSORN
2.5.176620.12.1769Jersey (60), Captain and Commanding Officer ADM 6/20/117BWAS-1714
1.7.177924.9.1779Included in the list of captains receiving half-pay.ADM104
25.9.177920.4.1780Greyhound (28), Captain and Commanding Officer ADM 6/22/30ADM104
17.4.1780 Battle of Martinique 
18.4.178016.6.1780Terrible (74), Captain and Commanding Officer: On board from 20.4.1780 ADM 6/22/261
Issued by Lord George Brydges Rodney (1st Baron Rodney) (1719-1792), Barbados - Windward Islands - Barbados & the Leeward Islands
Commission confirmed 14.3.1781		BWAS-1714
16.6.17806.2.1781Conqueror (74), Captain and Commanding Officer ADM 6/22/217
Issued by Lord George Brydges Rodney (1st Baron Rodney) (1719-1792), Barbados - Windward Islands - Barbados & the Leeward Islands
Commission confirmed 25.12.1780		BWAS-1714
25.4.178115.1.1782Sampson (64), Captain and Commanding Officer ADM 6/22/278BWAS-1714
26.9.178218.4.1783Standard (64), Captain and Commanding Officer ADM 6/22/521BWAS-1714
18.4.178326.6.1786Standard (64), Captain and Commanding Officer ADM 6/23/52ADM 6/23
6.10.17901.2.1793Gibraltar (80), Captain and Commanding Officer ADM 6/24/74ADM 6/24
1.2.1793 Rear-Admiral of the Blue ADM 6/24/201CSORN
12.4.1794 Rear-Admiral of the White ADM 6/25/30CSORN
4.7.1794 Vice-Admiral of the Blue ADM 6/25/55CSORN
1.6.1795 Vice-Admiral of the WhiteCSORN
14.2.1799 Admiral of the BlueCSORN

Sources


IDDescriptionAuthorType
ADM 107/4ADM 107/4 1745-1757 Lieutenants' passing certificates. Archive
CSORNCommissioned Sea Officers of the Royal NavyDavid Bonner Smith / Syrett & DiNardoWeb Site
ref:676More than Nelson Web Site
ref:1045The Baronetage of EnglandJohn DebrettDigital Book
TRN3The Royal Navy : a history from the earliest times to the present Vol IIIWilliam Laid ClowesDigital Book
RNLPCRoyal Navy Lieutenants' Passing Certificates 1691-1902Bruno PappalardoBook
ADM 6/20ADM 6/20 Commission and Warrant Book 1764-1773 Archive
BWAS-1714British Warships in the Age of Sail 1714 - 1792Rif WinfieldBook
ADM104ADM 104 Officers entitled to Half Pay Document
ADM 6/23ADM 6/23 Commission and Warrant Book 1783-1789 Aug.  Archive
ADM 6/24ADM 6/24 Commission and Warrant Book 1789 Sep.-1793  Archive
Previous comments on this page

Posted by Cy on Thursday 9th of May 2019 19:52

One other thing, in September 1779 Archibald was listed as in receipt of half-pay, ADM 104 is the source for that.

Posted by Cy on Thursday 9th of May 2019 17:06

Archibald Dickson was Captain of the Greyhound before William, who superceeded him. Probably the cause of the confusion.

Posted by Cy on Thursday 9th of May 2019 17:04

The commission quoted ADM 6/22/30 quite clearly shows William being commissioned a captain of the Greyhound on 25 Sept 1779. I will always favour a primary source like this over any number of secondary 'authorities'. William was moved into the Terrible the day after the battle which can't just be a coincidence, can it?

Posted by helen on Thursday 9th of May 2019 16:30

Many thanks for taking the time and trouble to write about this officer. However, I do not believe he commanded the Greyhound at the Battle of Martinique - several sources say it was his brother, Sir Archibald Dickson, who did so. I wonder whether William Dickson fought in any other battles please as he is one of my distant relatives and I would like to be able to add any battles to the family history I am researching. Can you help please.

Many thanks
Helen

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