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The following is the entry for William Robert Mends in William O'Byrnes 1849 'Naval Biographical Dictionary'.
MENDS. (Commander, 1846. f-p., 21; h-p., 1.) William Robert Mends, born 27 Feb. 1812, is eldest son of Capt. Wm. Bowen Mends, R.N.This officer entered the Royal Naval College 7 May, 1825; and embarked, 21 Dec. 1828, as a Volunteer, on board the Challenger 26, Capt. John Hayes. In the ensuing Jan. he removed to the Thetis 46, Capts. Arthur Batt Bingham and Sara. Burgess, with whom he continued to serve on the South American station, latterly in the capacity of Midshipman, until wrecked off Cape Frio 5 Dec. 1830; and he was next, between April, 1831, and his promotion to the rank of Lieutenant, 11 Aug. 1835, employed as Mate in the Actaeon 26 and Pique 36, Capts. Hon. Fred. Wm. Grey and Hon. Henry John Rous, in the Mediterranean and on particular service. His succeeding appointments were – 30 Dec. 1835, 29 Nov. 1836, and 17 Jan. 1837, to the Vernon 50, Capt. John M’Kerlie, Caledonia 120, flag-ship of Sir Josias Rowley, and Rodney 92, Capt. Hyde Parker, all on the Mediterranean station – between 28 July, 1838, and June, 1843, to the Ceylon 2, Benbow 74, and Ganges 84, as Flag-Lieutenant to Sir John Louis, Admiral Superintendent at Malta – and 3 Nov. 1843, as Senior, to the Fox 42, bearing the broad pendant of Sir Henry Martin Blackwood in the East Indies. He returned to England on the occasion of his advancement to the rank of Commander, 9 Nov. 1846; and is at present unemployed. Commander Mends married, 6 Jan. 1838, Melita, third daughter of Joseph Stilon, Esq., M.D., Surg. R.N. (1815). |
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