Miller Worsley

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Miller Worsley (July 8, 1791 - May 2, 1835) was an officer in the Royal Navy, best known for serving in the Engagement on Lake Huron in the Anglo-American War of 1812.

He was the son of a clergyman, and first joined the Navy as a volunteer in 1803 and became a Midshipman in 1805. He was present at the Battle of Trafalgar, aboard HMS Swiftsure. Although he passed the examination for Lieutenant in 1810, owing to the large numbers of officers in the Royal Navy at the time he was still a Midshipman when drafted from Bermuda in 1812 with several other officers to serve in Canada. He was promoted Lieutenant on July 12, 1813 and served in the Raid on Fort Oswego in the following year.

He was then appointed to command the Royal Naval detachment on Lake Huron. He made his way overland to the base at Nottawasaga Bay in July, but a superior American force destroyed it. He then proceeded by boat to Fort Mackinac, obtained reinforcements and captured the two American naval vessels on the lake, securing British supremacy there for the remainder of the war.

Unfortunately, Worsley fell ill in October, and saw no further active service, although he was appointed half-pay Commander on July 13, 1815.

After the war, he returned to his parental home on the Isle of Wight, and married in 1820. In 1832 he became an Inspecting Commander in the Coastguard. He left in 1834 and died the next year.