1. Admiral Sir William Domett, GCB was a senior officer of the British Royal Navy who saw extensive service during the American Revolutionary, French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars.
18 Facts About William Domett
1. 2.
William Domett went on to be First Naval Lord and then Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth during the closing stages of the Napoleonic Wars.
3.
Later in life, ill-health forced early retirement and William Domett retired to his country estate in Hawkchurch, Devon, close to Lord Bridport's estates.
4.
Little is known of William Domett's birth or upbring, although it is thought he was born in the Hawkchurch, Devon region in 1752.
5.
At the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, William Domett was in Surprise when she was at the relief of the Siege of Quebec.
6.
Three years later, William Domett was still aboard Robust, and in her took part in the Battle of Cape Henry.
7.
On board this ship William Domett saw out the war, joining Lord Howe's fleet which relieved the Great Siege of Gibraltar and later fought at the Battle of Cape Spartel.
8.
William Domett remained in command when Hood became Viscount Bridport and served under him again the following year at the Battle of Groix.
9.
William Domett did not leave Royal George until 1800, the seven years he spent in command being a record in the Channel Fleet at the time.
10.
When Lord St Vincent took command of the Channel Fleet, William Domett was initially sceptical of his new commander, but the two soon developed a close working partnership and William Domett even retained the flag captaincy over the claims of Sir Thomas Troubridge.
11.
At the Battle of Copenhagen, William Domett disagreed with Parker's tactical plan and persuaded him to change it, resulting in the attack by Nelson at which the Danish fleet was destroyed.
12.
On 23 April 1804, William Domett was made a rear-admiral but refused a seagoing commission due to a sudden deterioration of his health.
13.
William Domett was rapidly promoted during the next eight years but was unable to rejoin the fleet at sea, his health remaining too weak for the strain of such service.
14.
William Domett became First Naval Lord in the Liverpool ministry in March 1812.
15.
William Domett was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath on 2 January 1815, promoted to full admiral on 12 August 1819 and advanced to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath on 16 May 1820.
16.
William Domett settled on his estate in Hawkchurch, Devon near the home of Lord Bridport, who had died in 1814.
17.
William Domett never married and had no children, but was highly esteemed in the service as a consummate sailor and brave fighter whose extremely long and dedicated sea service had earned him an excellent reputation in the Navy.
18.
William Domett died suddenly in 1828 and was buried in the local church.