William Death

Who is William Death?

Captain William Death was an 18th-century privateer from Middlesex, England who died in battle December 1756, in the first year of the Seven Years' War.

Captain Death was in command of the Terrible, a ship equipped with twenty-six carriage guns, and manned with 200 sailors. On 23 December 1756, the Terrible engaged the Alexandre le Grande, a large French ship sailing from Saint-Domingue. The Alexandre le Grande was captured, but 4th Lieutenant John Death, Captain Death's brother, died in battle, and 16 other men were lost. Captain Death assigned 40 men to secure the French ship, and they made for Plymouth, England.

As the ships entered the English Channel on 27 December, they met the French Vengeance, a privateer from Saint-Malo, with 36 large cannon and 360 men. The Vengeance sailed towards the Terrible under an English ensign, but hoisted the French colours when she came near, sailing between the faster Terrible and the slower Alexandre le Grande. The French retook the Alexandre and doubled up on the Terrible, which lost her main-mast in first broadside. When the battle ended, the French commander, his second in command, and 2/3 of his company were lost.