William Henry Dillon
Encyclopedia
Admiral Sir William Henry Dillon (1780–1857) was a British
naval officer.
He was born in Birmingham in 1779, illegitimate
son of Sir John Talbot Dillon
, and Elizabeth Collins. He entered the navy in May 1790 and served as a midshipman
under Captain Gambier in the Defence, and was stunned by a splinter in the action of 1 June 1794. He was present in Lord Bridport's action off Ile de Groix on 23 June 1795, and at the reduction of St. Lucie in May 1796, when he carried a flag of truce to take possession of Pigeon Island
. Having become an acting-lieutenant in the Glenmore (1798), he co-operated with the army at Wexford
during the rebellion, where he succeeded in arresting the Irish chief Skallian. As senior-lieutenant of the Africaine, with a flag of truce from Lord Keith to the Dutch commodore, Valterbach, at Helvoetsluys, he was (20 July 1803) made, most unjustifiably, a prisoner, handed over to the French
, and detained in captivity until September 1807. In the meantime (8 April 1805) he had been made a commander, and on obtaining his release he took the command of the sloop Childers, carrying only fourteen 12-pound carronades and sixty-five men, and in her on 14 March 1808, on the coast of Norway, after a long action, drove off a Danish man-of-war brig of twenty guns and one hundred and sixty men. In this service he was severely wounded, and his gallant conduct was acknowledged by the Patriotic Fund at Lloyd's by the presentation of a sword valued at one hundred guineas
. After obtaining his post commission (21 March 1808) he served at Walcheren, on the coasts of Portugal
and Spain
, at Newfoundland, in China, India
, and finally in the Mediterranean, in command of the Russell, 74, when he rendered much service to the Spanish cause. He obtained flag rank on 9 Nov. 1846. He was nominated K.C.H. on 13 Jan. 1835, on 24 June following was knighted by William IV
at St. James's Palace
, and in 1839 received the good-service pension. He was gazetted a vice-admiral of the blue on 5 March 1853, and of the red in 1857, and died on 9 Sept. 1857, leaving in manuscript an account of his professional career, with a description of the many scenes in which he had been engaged.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
naval officer.
He was born in Birmingham in 1779, illegitimate
Legitimacy (law)
At common law, legitimacy is the status of a child who is born to parents who are legally married to one another; and of a child who is born shortly after the parents' divorce. In canon and in civil law, the offspring of putative marriages have been considered legitimate children...
son of Sir John Talbot Dillon
John Talbot Dillon
Sir John Talbot Dillon, 1st Baronet, Baron Dillon was an Irish politician and baronet, traveller and historical writer.-Career and travels:...
, and Elizabeth Collins. He entered the navy in May 1790 and served as a midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
under Captain Gambier in the Defence, and was stunned by a splinter in the action of 1 June 1794. He was present in Lord Bridport's action off Ile de Groix on 23 June 1795, and at the reduction of St. Lucie in May 1796, when he carried a flag of truce to take possession of Pigeon Island
Pigeon Island (Saint Lucia)
Pigeon Island is a islet located in Gros Islet in the northern region of Saint Lucia. Once isolated from the country in the Caribbean Sea the island was artificially joined to the western coast of mainland in 1972 by a man-made causeway built from dirt excavated to form the Rodney Bay Marina...
. Having become an acting-lieutenant in the Glenmore (1798), he co-operated with the army at Wexford
Wexford
Wexford is the county town of County Wexford, Ireland. It is situated near the southeastern corner of Ireland, close to Rosslare Europort. The town is connected to Dublin via the M11/N11 National Primary Route, and the national rail network...
during the rebellion, where he succeeded in arresting the Irish chief Skallian. As senior-lieutenant of the Africaine, with a flag of truce from Lord Keith to the Dutch commodore, Valterbach, at Helvoetsluys, he was (20 July 1803) made, most unjustifiably, a prisoner, handed over to the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and detained in captivity until September 1807. In the meantime (8 April 1805) he had been made a commander, and on obtaining his release he took the command of the sloop Childers, carrying only fourteen 12-pound carronades and sixty-five men, and in her on 14 March 1808, on the coast of Norway, after a long action, drove off a Danish man-of-war brig of twenty guns and one hundred and sixty men. In this service he was severely wounded, and his gallant conduct was acknowledged by the Patriotic Fund at Lloyd's by the presentation of a sword valued at one hundred guineas
Guinea (British coin)
The guinea is a coin that was minted in the Kingdom of England and later in the Kingdom of Great Britain and the United Kingdom between 1663 and 1813...
. After obtaining his post commission (21 March 1808) he served at Walcheren, on the coasts of Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, at Newfoundland, in China, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, and finally in the Mediterranean, in command of the Russell, 74, when he rendered much service to the Spanish cause. He obtained flag rank on 9 Nov. 1846. He was nominated K.C.H. on 13 Jan. 1835, on 24 June following was knighted by William IV
William IV of the United Kingdom
William IV was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until his death...
at St. James's Palace
St. James's Palace
St. James's Palace is one of London's oldest palaces. It is situated in Pall Mall, just north of St. James's Park. Although no sovereign has resided there for almost two centuries, it has remained the official residence of the Sovereign and the most senior royal palace in the UK...
, and in 1839 received the good-service pension. He was gazetted a vice-admiral of the blue on 5 March 1853, and of the red in 1857, and died on 9 Sept. 1857, leaving in manuscript an account of his professional career, with a description of the many scenes in which he had been engaged.