William Swiney

Notes on Officer

This officer was promoted to the rank of Post-Captain, May 2, 1779, and commanded the Royal Oak, of 74 guns, bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Arbuthnot, when that officer encountered M. de Ternay, off Cape Henry, March 16, 1781, on which occasion the Royal Oak had three men wounded. Captain Swiney afterwards commanded the Assurance, of 44 guns, on the New York station, under the orders of Admiral Digby. He was advanced to the rank of Rear-Admiral, Feb. 20, 1797; Vice-Admiral, Jan. 1st, 1801; and Admiral, April 28th, 1808. He is, we believe, a brother of Sidney Swiney, Esq., Purser, R.N. His sister was married to the late Sir B. Turner, whom she survived.

Jan. 1. At Sydney Place , near Exeter , aged 81 , William Swiney , esq . Ad miral of the Red . Admiral Swiney had served for 70 years in the Royal Navy . He began this long period of service at a very early age , on board the Hero , of 74 guns , commanded by the late Lord Mount - Edgecumbe , a few weeks before Sir Edward Hawke's action with Monsieur Conflans . He was made a Commander by Adm . Young , on the Leeward Island station; was promoted to the rank of Post Captain in 1779 , and appointed to the Europe , of 64 guns, then fitting for the flag of Adm. Arbuthnot , as Commander in Chief on the American station, with whom he continued till that Admiral was superseded by Adm. Digby. Then commanded the Royal Oak , of 74 guns , and finally , at the conclusion of the American war, returned to England in command of the Assurance, of 44 guns . He was actively employed on the American and West India station nearly the whole of the American war, and commanded the Ville de Paris, of 120 guns, at Spithead , when the flag promotion took place. He was advanced to the rank of Rear Admiral 1797 , Vice Admiral 1801, and Admiral in 1808 .