Early Life
William Dawes was born at Portsmouth, Hampshire, in early 1762, the eldest child of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Sinnatt) Dawes. He was christened there on 17 March 1762. His father was a clerk of works in the Ordnance Office at Portsmouth.
He joined the marines as Second Lieutenant on 2 September 1779 and was wounded in action against the French Navy under the Comte de Grasse at the Battle of the Chesapeake in 1781.
Dawes volunteered for service with the First Fleet and, being known as a competent astronomer, was asked to establish an observatory and make astronomical observations on the voyage and in New South Wales.
Read more about this topic: William Dawes (Royal Marines Officer)
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