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 June 1, 1782; made a Lieutenant in 1800; Commander in 1802, and Post-Captain, Mar. 3, 1804.

His Lordship commanded the AEolus frigate in Sir Richard J. Strachan’s action, Nov. 4, 1805; and at the reduction of Martinique, in 1809. Previous to the latter event, he had been elected M.P. for Thetford, in which borough the Grafton family appear to have possessed great influence for a long series of years, one of the titles attached to the dukedom being “Viscount Thetford.” His last appointment was, about June, 1810, to the Macedonian frigate, in which he served on the Lisbon station, until dismissed from the service, for a breach of the 33d Article of War, April 7, 1811.

Lord William was restored to his rank in the navy at the latter end of August, in the same year; and nominated a C.B. in 1815. He married, Aug. 9, 1816, Georgiana, second daughter of Thomas Raikes, Esq. and by that lady has issue.

Towards the close of 1823, a small pamphlet was printed and circulated, among the higher ranks in the navy, under the title of “A brief Statement arising out of a Passage contained in the third volume of James’s Naval History of Great Britain, on the Conduct and Character of Lord William Fitz Roy, in the year 1805.” To this “” Mr. James published “,” in January, 1824. The circumstance which gave rise to those pamphlets has been discussed by Captain Brenton in the third volume of his Naval History – We have neither time nor inclination to enter into the subject.



 officer is nearly related to the present Marquis of Bute, and consequently descended from Robert II. King of Scotland.

We are not acquainted with the particulars of his birth, but have been told that he was educated at Eton; and that he entered the naval service towards the close of 1793, as a Midshipman on board the Providence of 16 guns, commanded by the late Captain William R. Broughton, with whom he