William Compton Bolton
William Compton Bolton (died 22 February 1849), born William Bolton Finch in England,[1] was an officer in the United States Navy during the mid-19th century.
As William Bolton Finch, he was a midshipman from 20 June 1806, lieutenant from 4 January 1813 and captain from 21 Feb 1831.[2] He served with distinction in the War of 1812, serving on the Essex from 1812 to 1814,[2] and in 1829-30 commanded Vincennes in her first around-the-world voyage by a US Navy vessel.[1]
He changed his name to William Compton Bolton on 14 January 1833; his sister Elizabeth changed her surname from Finch to Bolton at the same time.[3]
Bolton commanded the Pensacola Navy Yard from 1836 to 1837.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
From 2 August 1839 to 1841 he commanded the Brandywine.[2] In 1848, he was the commander of the Mediterranean SquadronScript error: No such module "Unsubst". and later the Africa Squadron in the sloop-of-war Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". in manoeuvres off the Cape Verde islands, Madeira and the Mediterranean.[1]
He died on 22 February 1849 at Genoa.[2][1]
His widow, Mary H. Lynch Bolton, married Charles Wilkes on October 3, 1854. Commodore Bolton had sat on Wilkes' court-martial board in 1842.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".