Sir William Beatty (April 1773 – 25 March 1842) was an Irish surgeon who served in the Royal Navy. Born in Derry, Ireland, he joined as a surgeon's mate in 1791 at the age of 18. He is best known as the ship's surgeon aboard during the Battle of Trafalgar, at which he witnessed the death of Admiral Horatio Nelson, and for writing an account of that battle – Authentic Narrative of the Death of Lord Nelson. Biography Early life and education William Beatty was the eldest son of James Beatty, an officer in the Irish Revenue Service, and Anne Smyth. He was born in the Waterside district of Derry, the eldest of four sons and two daughters. No records survive of his education, though he attended a local school, most likely Foyle College, before beginning his medical studies. He may have been apprenticed to his uncle George Smyth, a half-pay naval surgeon in nearby Buncrana, before studying at either the University of Glasgow or at "The United Hospitals of the Borough" - the joint medical school of Guy's and St Thomas' Hospitals in London. What is known is that on 5 May 1791, the 18-year-old Beatty was examined before the London Company of Surgeons, and found qualified for employment by the Navy. Surgeon's mate Beatty was promptly appointed second surgeon's mate aboard the 64-gun third-rate ship , but was soon reassigned, moving to the 32-gun frigate in September 1791. He was promoted to first surgeon's mate of the 32-gun frigate on 1 February 1793, the same day that Revolutionary France declared war on Britain. The ship sailed for the Caribbean, where on 5 December 1793, he was appointed acting surgeon of the schooner . On 25 June 1794, he was appointed acting surgeon of the 28-gun frigate at Port-au-Prince, where he was immediately confronted with an epidemic of yellow fever in which 50 men, one-quarter of the crew, died. Alligator returned to England, where on 19 February 1795, Beatty was once again examined by the Company of Surgeons, and was judged qualified to serve as a ship's surgeon. Ship's surgeon Beatty was appointed to the 28-gun frigate on 8 March 1795, but soon fell foul of his captain the Hon. Augustus Fitzroy. On 19 July, a discussion over the status of two men whom Beatty had placed on the sick list quickly became acrimonious, with Fitzroy accusing Beatty of