NAVAL GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL WITH BASQUE ROADS 1809 CLASP TO LIEUT. W.S. ADDINGTON, R.N.

William Silvester Addington entered the Navy on 27 Jan 1799 as an Able Seaman aboard H.M.S. Penelope, and continued to serve as Midshipman and Master’s Mate of the Brilliant, Hydra, Endymion and Egyptienne frigates until Feb 1807. During this period Addington was employed off Newfoundland, and in the Channel and Mediterranean, in cruising against the enemy, from whom he assisted in taking a large number of privateers and other armed vessels, and, on one occasion, several richly-laden Spanish merchantmen.

On 12 Mar 1807, Addington was promoted to Lieutenant in the Maida 74, part of the force employed in the ensuing expedition against Copenhagen. In the course of 1808 he joined the Leviathan and Revenge 74’s, in the latter of which ships he witnessed the destruction of the French shipping in the Basque Roads in 1809, and accompanied the expedition to the Walcheren.

In Oct 1810, Addington was appointed in command of the Orion transport, with combustibles intended for the destruction of the Toulon fleet; and from Apr to Sep 1811, he had charge of the Delfine fire-brig in the Adriatic. He was then unemployed until Aug 1827, when he was appointed to the Prince Regent 120, bearing the flag at the Nore of Hon. Sir Henry Blackwood. He remained in that ship until promoted to Commander in July 1830.

In June 1851, Addington was transferred to the list of Commanders on reserved half pay, and, in April 1856 was promoted to the rank of Retired Captain, dying in 1863.