William O. S. Gilly

Born in 1789, William Stephen Gilly was an English clergyman who became known as a preacher, churchman, and author. He was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, and later served as vicar of Norham and then perpetual curate of Rider's Chapel in London.

Alongside his church career, he wrote a range of books, including religious works and historical studies. One of the best known is Narratives of Shipwrecks of the Royal Navy; Between 1793 and 1849, a collection that drew on official Admiralty records to recount dramatic losses at sea.

Gilly also became noted for his interest in the Waldensians, the Christian movement in the Alpine regions of Italy and France, and published books based on his research and travels. He died in 1855, leaving behind a body of writing that mixed moral purpose, historical curiosity, and a gift for memorable storytelling.