Captain William Williams ( - 22 October 1780) was an American naval officer in the American Revolution. He was imprisoned twice by the British and participated in the
Battle off Halifax (1780)
The Battle off Halifax took place on 10 July 1780 during the American Revolutionary War. The British privateer ''Resolution'' fought the American privateer ''Viper'' and heavy casualties were suffered by both sides. The battle was "one of the blo ...
.
Career
He commanded a privateer from Providence, Rhode Island named ''Montgomery''. On 8 August 1777 he was captured by the British and committed to
Fortun Prison Fortun or Fortún may refer to:
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* Antonio Fortún (c. 1800-c. 1860), former Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico
* Elena Fortún (1886–1952), a Spanish children's author
* Julia Elena Fortún (1929–2016), a Bolivian historian, anthrop ...
. Williams escaped and then took command of the privateer ''Gerard'' on 23 March 1779. He then commanded the privateer ''Nantz''. He fell in with HMS ''Shaftsbury'' in July 1779 and was taken prisoner again. He was exchanged the following year and, on 9 May 1780, Williams took command of the privateer ''Viper'' (16 guns).
On 10 July 1780 Williams was victorious over the British privateer ''Resolution'' in the
Battle off Halifax (1780)
The Battle off Halifax took place on 10 July 1780 during the American Revolutionary War. The British privateer ''Resolution'' fought the American privateer ''Viper'' and heavy casualties were suffered by both sides. The battle was "one of the blo ...
.
On 30 October 1780 Williams fell in with the British privateer ''Hetty'' (16 guns) off
Cape Hatteras, North Carolina
Cape Hatteras is a cape located at a pronounced bend in Hatteras Island, one of the barrier islands of North Carolina.
Long stretches of beach, sand dunes, marshes, and maritime forests create a unique environment where wind and waves shape ...
. Williams delivered a broadside about noon. The battle lasted 30 minutes when Williams was severely wounded by a musket ball and the ''Hetty'' escaped. Williams died six hours later.
See also
*
Nova Scotia in the American Revolution
The Province of Nova Scotia was heavily involved in the American Revolutionary War (1776–1783). At that time, Nova Scotia also included present-day New Brunswick until that colony was created in 1784. The Revolution had a significant impact on ...
References
{{reflist
History of Nova Scotia
People from Salem, Massachusetts
American privateers
American Revolutionary War prisoners of war held by Great Britain
United States Navy personnel of the American Revolution
1870 deaths
date of birth unknown