William Proby, Lord Proby facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lord Proby
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|---|---|
| Born | 19 June 1779 |
| Died | 6 August 1804 HMS Amelia, at Surinam |
| Buried |
St Michael's Cathedral, Bridgetown, Barbados
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| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1792? - 1804 |
| Rank | Post-Captain |
| Commands held | HMS Emerald (temporary) Fireship HMS Tarleton HMS Peterel HMS Danae HMS Amelia |
| Battles/wars | French Revolutionary Wars Napoleonic Wars |
William Allen Proby, Lord Proby (born June 19, 1779 – died August 6, 1804) was a British Royal Navy officer. He was also a Whig politician. He served his country during the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars.
Contents
Lord Proby's Early Life
Family and Schooling
William Allen Proby was the oldest son of John Proby, who later became the 1st Earl of Carysfort. His mother was Elizabeth Osbourne. William went to Rugby School in Warwickshire, England. He started there in 1788 when he was about nine years old.
Joining the Fleet
Lord Proby joined the Royal Navy when he was quite young. He was promoted very quickly. This was probably because his family was important and had influence. By 1798, when he was only 19, he had already become a post-captain. This was a high rank for someone so young.
Commanding Ships
Lord Proby commanded several ships during his naval career. These included the fireship Tarleton and the smaller ship Peterel. A fireship was an old type of ship filled with flammable materials. It was used to set enemy ships on fire.
The Danae Mutiny
Lord Proby became the captain of Danae. On March 14, 1800, something very unusual happened. Forty of his crew members took control of the ship. This event is called a mutiny. The mutiny happened near Brest, France.
The crew members who mutinied were often French and American sailors. They had been forced to join the British navy. This might have been a reason for their actions. Also, the ship's discipline might have been a bit relaxed. The mutineers handed the ship over to a French ship called Colombe.
Lord Proby and the loyal crew members were treated well by the French. They were later allowed to return home.
Serving on the Amelia
In April 1802, Lord Proby took command of HMS Amelia. He sailed to different places in Ireland. He also spent time fighting against smugglers. Smugglers illegally bring goods into a country.
Later, the Amelia sailed to the Leeward Islands. This area was known for diseases at the time.
A Young Life Ends
Sadly, Lord Proby died in August 1804. He was only 25 years old. He died from yellow fever in Surinam. Yellow fever was a dangerous disease common in tropical areas. He was buried in a church in Bridgetown, Barbados. A special stone there remembers him.
Lord Proby as a Politician
Serving in Parliament
Besides his naval career, Lord Proby was also a politician. He was a member of the British House of Commons. This is part of the British Parliament. He represented the area of Buckingham. He served from 1802 until his death in 1804. His younger brother, John, took his place in Parliament.
