Page, Benjamin William, Admiral, 1765-1845.

The collection consists of Page's official and private correspondence 1778 to 1841, contained in three volumes and loose papers.

Administrative / biographical background
Page entered the Navy as a first class volunteer in the SUPERB in 1778. By 1782 he had been involved in four engagements and was wounded in one leg. At this time he was promoted acting lieutenant and was involved in a further action in 1783. His rank was confirmed in 1784. For the next ten years he filled a series of appointments and was promoted commander of the HOBART by Captain Peter Rainier in 1794. Page was in the East Indies in 1796 using his experience gained whilst on station in the SUPERB to guide convoys through those difficult waters. In that year he achieved post-rank. From 1800 he spent two years in the Mediterranean in command of the INFLEXIBLE and in 1804 returned to the East Indies in command of the CAROLINE. Whilst in the East Indies in 1804 he made the captures of two well-armed French privateers. In 1805 he becam Rainier's flag captain in the TRIDENT and in October of that year returned to England. In 1809 Page assumed command of the Sea Fencibles at Harwich until they were disbanded in 1810. From 1812 to 1815 he commanded the PUISSANT a guardship at Portsmouth. Page attained the rank of admiral. He died in retirement in 1845.

Record Details

Item reference: PGE; GB 0064
Catalogue Section: Personal collections
Level: COLLECTION
Date made: 1778-1910
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London