William Wells (1815–1880) was an English whaling master (1844 to 1867), harbour master of Hull, and advisor to explorer Benjamin Leigh Smith.[1][2]
William Wells | |
|---|---|
| Born | 15 July 1815 Towthorpe |
| Died | 27 April 1880 (aged 64) Kingston upon Hull |
| Burial place | St Marys Church, Rimswell |
| Occupation | Sea captain |
| Spouse(s) | Jane Hornby |
| Children | 7 |
Career as a mariner
edit
William started his career as an apprentice at the age of 12 in 1827, aboard the Abram. He completed his apprenticeship in 1835 and worked as a seaman in merchant ships and whalers until 1842. On 15 February 1852, he was admitted as a younger brother of the guild of masters and pilots of Trinity House.[3][4] In December 1867, after 26 years as a whaling master, William became harbour master at Hull and advisor to explorer Benjamin Leigh Smith.[1][5][6] He retired in 1876.
Commands
editWells' first command was for the merchant ship Ann in 1842; he went on to captain many whaling ships: Helen (1844–45), St George (1846–49), Ann (1850–1853), Truelove (1854–1860 and 1866–1867), Emma (1861–62), Diana (1863), and Narwhal (1864).[7][5] He was one of the last two whaling masters sailing from Hull.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Truelove: From War to Whaler - Hull Museums Collections". Hullcc.gov.uk. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
- ^ "William Wells". Hullwebs.co.uk. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
- ^ Hepton, Philip (1984). Captain William Wells and the last years of the Hull whaling fleet: 1844–1869. Hull ([James Reckitt Ave., Hull HU8 0JD]): Malet Lambert H.S. OCLC 17443572.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link) - ^ Hepton, Philip (1982). William Wells, master mariner: 1815–1880. Hull ([c/o A.G. Bell, James Reckitt Ave., Hull]): Malet Lambert High School. OCLC 16604869.
- ^ a b Hepton, Philip (January 1983). "William Wells, Master Mariner and Whaler, 1815–80". Polar Record. 21 (133): 383–386. Bibcode:1983PoRec..21..383H. doi:10.1017/S0032247400019264. ISSN 1475-3057. S2CID 128938688.
- ^ "How the Truelove spent 130 years at sea". HEY Today. 12 April 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
- ^ Brigham, Alan. "Whaling Masters - P to S". Hullwebs.co.uk. Retrieved 4 November 2017.