William Muriel (1794 - 1876)

Born : 1794 Ely, Cambridge
Died : 1st November 1876 Ely, Cambridge

Father : Robert Muriel (1762-1828)
Mother : Sarah Martin

Married : Catherine Meliora Alexander (1796-1864) 1

Children :

Fanny Abeland Muriel b (1831) d (1854) married Rev Charles Fitzgerald Gambier Jenyns in 1854
William George Muriel b (1832) married Sarah Lynn
Elizabeth Catherine Muriel b (1833) d (1856)

History

Occupation : Royal Navy Captain & Commander he was also MRCS Surgeon in Whickham Market, Suffolk

1851 Census : residence Middle St, Whickham Market : Occupation MRCS Surgeon
1861 Census : residence Middle St, Whickham Market : Retired Royal Navy Captain
1871 Census : High St, Ely, Cambridge. Living with elder sister Mary

Royal Navy Information

HMS Hero built 1774 served on 1804 (at Trafalgar)
HMS Dragon served on 1807
HMS Bellerphon served on 1809
HMS Blossom
HMS San Josef
HMS Mermaid built 1782 served on 1812
HMS Bulwark built 1807 served on 1817
HMS Royal Sovereign built 1786 served on from 1820 - the Royal Sovereign was a 100-gun first rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy which served as the flagship of Admiral Collingwood at the Battle of Trafalgar. She was part of the Channel Fleet in 1820.


1876
Death of a Naval Veteran.—The Late Captain William Muriel, R.N.~Another of our ancient sea heroes has ceased from amongst us, ripe in years, rich in honour, and respected by everyone. We append a brief narrative of some of the most important episodes of his public life, kindly supplied by a friend. William Muriel, third son of the late Mr. Robert Muriel, of Ely, surgeon, was born at Ely on the 7th of May, 1794. At the age of eleven he entered the Royal Navy, as midshipman on board His Majesty's ship, Hero, in the year 1805, a short time before the battle of Trafalgar, at which time a medal was given to him. Two year afterwards he was transferred to His Majesty's ship, Dragon, whence, after two years' active service, he proceeded to the Baltic, on board the ; Bellerophon, and was then commander of the most
important boat action of that period, for which he was awarded another medal. On his return from the Baltic, in 1809, he was appointed to the Blossom, and thereafter was transferred to the St. Joseph, and was actively engaged in the war between France and Italy, and was gazetted lieutenant in 1812. Two years afterwards he was successful in an attack upon the Island of Ponza, off the coast of Naples, which he captured. In 1817 he was appointed to the Bulwark guard ship. In the year 1820 he had the distinguished honour of being sent to Dunkirk to bring home to England their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Clarence, afterwards William IV. and Queen Adelaide. The following year he retired on half pay as captain, and devoted himself to the medical profession, in which he obtained considerable distinction as a surgeon. Holding his diploma of Guy's Hospital, he practised for 40 years at Wickham Market, Suffolk, until the death of his wife and children, when he left, and returned to end his days amongst his relations and friends in his native city of Ely. There on Wednesday he died in peaceful resignation, in the 82nd year of his age. Hie memory will long be revered as a notable member of a most estimable family, which, we regret to know, is one by one fading away from amongst us Notes 1.Catherine Meliora Alexander was the adopted daughter of George Millers (1776 - 1852) a minor canon and historian of Ely Cathedral and William’s tutor. George was also Vicar of Stanford and Rector of Hardwick. In the late 1840s he inherited Duddon Grove, nr Ulverston. There is a memorial plaque to George inside Ely Cathedral.