William Wells (whaling master)

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
Born15 July 1815
Towthorpe
Died27 April 1880 (aged 64)
Kingston upon Hull
Burial placeSt Marys Church, Rimswell
OccupationSea captain
Spouse(s)Jane Hornby
Children7

Career as a mariner
Illustration of the Truelove from The Illustrated London News 1870

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

Wells' 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

References
  1. "Truelove: From War to Whaler - Hull Museums Collections". Hullcc.gov.uk. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  2. "William Wells". Hullwebs.co.uk. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  3. 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)
  4. 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.
  5. Hepton, Philip (January 1983). "William Wells, Master Mariner and Whaler, 1815–80". Polar Record. 21 (133): 383–386. doi:10.1017/S0032247400019264. ISSN 1475-3057. S2CID 128938688.
  6. "How the Truelove spent 130 years at sea". HEY Today. 12 April 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  7. Brigham, Alan. "Whaling Masters - P to S". Hullwebs.co.uk. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
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