Can this sailor possibly have been as tough as it appears?

Question

So far primary sources are few and far between. However assorted secondary sources suggest that on the 1st of June 1794 William Prowse was so badly injured that a leg had to be amputated. The Dictionary of national biography has him off to sea in July that year. Boggles my mind to even think about it.

Need opinions from people who know more about this sort of thing, physicians, military historians? I only know it took Nelson months to recover from losing his arm.

My library no longer subscribes to ODNB, might be worth a look if anyone has access.

Answer 1

ODNB has very much the same as the DNB in terms of where he served and promotions (it does have Born Stonehouse Devon 1751/2  (there are registers for East Stonehouse for this period but I can't find them online. Mentions that he appears unmarried and left £2000 to each of his five sisters.)  As in the DNB, there is no mention of amputation.

Comments

His obituary in The Gentleman's magazine of 1826 says that he was severely injured in the leg in 1794 and was sent to hospital but that it was his 'patron' (Rear Admr Bowyer? )who lost a leg

google books 

Answer 2

The ODNB article makes no mention of William being injured and losing a leg in June 1794, from the article - he followed Captain Cuthbert Collingwood to the Barfleur in 1793 and took part in the action on 1 June 1794, then from July 1794 to October 1795 he was with the Theseus.

According to the article he was born c1751/2 in Stonehouse Devon; he didn't marry; and when he died he left his five sisters £2000 each.  His Will is available on the National Archives website "William Prowse, Rear Admiral in his Majesty's Navy, of St Pancras, Middlesex; Probate 22 April 1826; PROB 11/1711/365"

Answer 3

I just looked him up on Wikipedia. He was indeed tough as nails and did continue his Military Service, soon after his leg was amputated. They said that he healed quickly. Bibliographic details for 'William Prowse" https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=William_Prowse&oldid=991342115