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{{Infobox military person |
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'''William Cayley''' (1742 – 17 March 1801) was a British naval captain who lost his life when [[HMS Invincible (1765)|HMS ''Invincible'']] foundered off the coast of Norfolk. |
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|honorific_prefix = |
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|name = William Cayley |
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|honorific_suffix = |
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|image = |
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|caption = |
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|nickname = |
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|birth_date = 5 May 1742 |
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|birth_place = [[York]] |
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|death_date = 3 January 1801 |
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|death_place = [[Chatham, Kent|Chatham]] |
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|placeofburial = |
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|allegiance = [[Kingdom of Great Britain]] |
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|branch = [[Royal Navy]] |
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|serviceyears = {{circa}}1762–1801 |
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|rank = [[Captain (Royal Navy)|Captain]] |
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|commands = {{HMS|Harpy|1777|6}}<br/>{{HMS|Edgar|1779|6}}<br/>{{HMS|Unicorn|1794|6}}<br/>[[French ship Deux Frères|HMS ''Juste'']]<br/>{{HMS| Invincible|1765|6}} |
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|known_for = |
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|battles = {{Tree list}} |
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*[[American Revolutionary War]] |
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**[[Battle of Cape Spartel]] |
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*[[French Revolutionary War]] |
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**[[Invasion of Trinidad (1797)|Invasion of Trinidad]] |
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{{tree list/end}} |
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|awards = |
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|memorials = |
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|alma_mater = |
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|spouse = Martha Ward |
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|children = 2 legitimate<br/>5 illegitimate |
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|relations = |
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|signature = |
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}} |
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[[Captain (Royal Navy)|Captain]] '''William Cayley''' (5 May 1742 – 3 January 1801) was a British [[Royal Navy]] officer. |
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== Family and |
== Family and early life == |
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William Cayley was the fourth son of Sir George Cayley (1707-1791), the fourth of the [[Cayley baronets]]. He was christened at [[St Michael le Belfrey, York]] on 5 May 1742.<ref>Parish register entry</ref> |
William Cayley was the fourth son of Sir George Cayley (1707-1791), the fourth of the [[Cayley baronets]].<ref>''Dugdale's Visitation of Yorkshire'', pub. Surtees Society, 1859</ref><ref>''The Naval Chronicle'' vol.5, January-July 1801</ref> He was christened at [[St Michael le Belfrey, York]] on 5 May 1742.<ref>Parish register entry</ref> |
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== Naval career == |
== Naval career == |
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| ⚫ | William Cayley was commissioned a lieutenant in 1762. In 1781 he was appointed commander and captain of {{HMS|Harpy|1777|6}}. The following year he was appointed captain of {{HMS|Edgar|1779|6}} and saw action against a Franco-Spanish fleet in the indecisive [[Battle of Cape Spartel]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2017}} |
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| ⚫ | In 1794 he was captain of the newly commissioned {{HMS|Unicorn|1794|6}} The following year he |
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| ⚫ | In 1794 he was captain of the newly commissioned {{HMS|Unicorn|1794|6}}. The following year he commissioned [[French ship Deux Frères|HMS ''Juste'']], a captured French ship, and commanded her for two months. He then took command of {{HMS| Invincible|1765|6}}. Over the next few years he escorted convoys and engaged in various battles with the French. In May 1796 he captured ''Alexandre'' off Madeira, and freed the Portuguese ship ''Signior Montcalm'', which ''Alexandre'' had previously captured.<ref>''Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette'' 26 May 1796</ref> The Royal Navy subsequently took her into service as {{HMS|Alexander|1796|6}}. In December that year he was involved in an attack on the French fleet off [[Dominica]].<ref>''A Narrative of my Professional Adventures (1790-1839)'', by Sir William Henry Dillon, vol. 1, pub. Navy Records Society 1953</ref> In 1797 he was present when [[Trinidad]] was surrendered to the British. In 1799 he was in the British fleet that received the surrender of [[Suriname]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2017}} |
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== Death == |
== Death == |
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He died at [[Chatham, Kent]] on 3 January 1801.<ref>''The Naval Chronicle'' vol.5, January-July 1801</ref> |
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In March 1801 his ship HMS ''Invincible'' was sailing from [[Great Yarmouth|Yarmouth]] to join in an attack on the Danish fleet with some 650 personnel aboard. In heavy wind she struck [[Hammond's Knoll]]. She broke free, but became stuck on another sandbank. After some hours she drifted off the sandbank but broke up. Over 400 men died, including William Cayley. In the subsequent court martial, William Cayley was exonerated, and blame was placed on the harbour pilot, who was one of those who died, and the ship's master.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Invincible_(1765)</ref> |
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== Sources == |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
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== External links == |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Cayley, William}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cayley, William}} |
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[[Category:1801 deaths]] |
[[Category:1801 deaths]] |
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[[Category:Royal Navy officers]] |
[[Category:Royal Navy officers]] |
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[[Category:Royal Navy captains]] |
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Latest revision as of 18:08, 21 February 2024
William Cayley | |
|---|---|
| Born | 5 May 1742 York |
| Died | 3 January 1801 Chatham |
| Allegiance | Kingdom of Great Britain |
| Service/ | Royal Navy |
| Years of service | c.1762–1801 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Commands | HMS Harpy HMS Edgar HMS Unicorn HMS Juste HMS Invincible |
| Battles/wars | |
| Spouse(s) | Martha Ward |
| Children | 2 legitimate 5 illegitimate |
Captain William Cayley (5 May 1742 – 3 January 1801) was a British Royal Navy officer.
Family and early life
[edit]William Cayley was the fourth son of Sir George Cayley (1707-1791), the fourth of the Cayley baronets.[1][2] He was christened at St Michael le Belfrey, York on 5 May 1742.[3]
Naval career
[edit]William Cayley was commissioned a lieutenant in 1762. In 1781 he was appointed commander and captain of HMS Harpy. The following year he was appointed captain of HMS Edgar and saw action against a Franco-Spanish fleet in the indecisive Battle of Cape Spartel.[citation needed]
In 1794 he was captain of the newly commissioned HMS Unicorn. The following year he commissioned HMS Juste, a captured French ship, and commanded her for two months. He then took command of HMS Invincible. Over the next few years he escorted convoys and engaged in various battles with the French. In May 1796 he captured Alexandre off Madeira, and freed the Portuguese ship Signior Montcalm, which Alexandre had previously captured.[4] The Royal Navy subsequently took her into service as HMS Alexander. In December that year he was involved in an attack on the French fleet off Dominica.[5] In 1797 he was present when Trinidad was surrendered to the British. In 1799 he was in the British fleet that received the surrender of Suriname.[citation needed]
Death
[edit]He died at Chatham, Kent on 3 January 1801.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ Dugdale's Visitation of Yorkshire, pub. Surtees Society, 1859
- ^ The Naval Chronicle vol.5, January-July 1801
- ^ Parish register entry
- ^ Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette 26 May 1796
- ^ A Narrative of my Professional Adventures (1790-1839), by Sir William Henry Dillon, vol. 1, pub. Navy Records Society 1953
- ^ The Naval Chronicle vol.5, January-July 1801