William Boys | |
|---|---|
 Boys c. 1790 | |
| Born | 25 June 1700 |
| Died | 4 March 1774 |
| Allegiance | Kingdom of Great Britain |
| Service/ | 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 2 3 4 "William Boys". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. 2004. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/64849. Retrieved 3 January 2015. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ↑ "William Boys". Historical Autographs. Retrieved 3 January 2015.