3-077-995 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Father of the Fleet: Admiral Sir Provo Wallis, G.C.B., now in his hundredth year, 1890. 'Sir Provo William Parry Wallis...entered the service before the end of the last century...In 1795, a child of four years, his name was entered on the books of one of the King's ships, and towards the end of 1800 he joined the Cleopatra, with which ship in 1801...he first went to sea...The young midshipman Wallis became a Lieutenant, and served in several other ships during the French war. In 1818, when we were at war with the United States, he was second Lieutenant of the frigate Shannon...which fought the American frigate Chesapeake off Boston Harbour. After that famous battle, which was a British victory, when Captain Broke had been wounded and bis first Lieutenant killed, the command of the ship, with its prize, devolved on Lieutenant Wallis. He was...employed in different naval services, on the coast of Mexico, in the Mediterranean, and in 1857, as Admiral and Commander-in-Chief on the south-east coast of America...owing to the exceptional length and character of his services, it was decided to retain the name of Sir Provo Wallis on the active list for the rest of his life'. From "Illustrated London News", 1890.