Military Wiki
William Boys
Boys c. 1790
Born 25 June 1700 (1700-06-25)
Died 4 March 1774 (1774-03-05)
Allegiance Kingdom of Great Britain
Service/branch Royal Navy
Rank Captain
Commands held
Battles/wars Seven Years' War

Captain William Boys (25 June 1700 – 4 March 1774) was a Royal Navy officer who became Commander-in-Chief, The Nore.

History[]

Promoted to captain, Boys joined the Royal Navy in 1717 and became a midshipman in the third-rate HMS Prince Frederick.[1] In June 1725 he was on board the South Sea Company slaver Luxborough Galley when the ship sunk following a fire and the six survivors only survived by cannibalism.[1] Promoted to captain he became commanding officer of the sixth-rate HMS Greyhound in June 1743, commanding officer of the fourth-rate HMS Princess Louisa in 1744 and commanding officer of the fifth-rate HMS Pearl on the East Indies Station in 1745.[1] He went on to be flag captain to Vice-Admiral Thomas Smith in the first-rate HMS Royal Sovereign in 1755 and commanding officer of the fourth-rate HMS Preston in 1759 and saw action during the Seven Years' War.[1] After that he became Commander-in-Chief, The Nore in 1760 and lieutenant-governor of Greenwich Hospital in July 1761.[2]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "William Boys" Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.) Oxford University Press 2004 Digital object identifier:10.1093/ref:odnb/64849 http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/64849?docPos=1. Retrieved 3 January 2015  (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. "William Boys". Historical Autographs. http://www.historicalautographs.co.uk/catalogue.asp?content=Naval%20History. Retrieved 3 January 2015. 
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