[3] who was the local squire of Felbrigg Hall and one time member of parliament for Norwich and Secretary at War in the Cabinet.

Soon after this appointment he was given the rank of Captain and with this promotion he was given HMS Thames,[1] a vessel of 32 guns, which had been re-captured on 8 June 1796 from the French who had initially captured the ship in 1793.

As Britain faced war with France, Lukin's career began to rise steadily in the Royal Navy especially with a powerful patron like William Windham.

Lukin was recorded as performing well in quelling the discontent and as a result helped the mutiny at Spithead to be resolved in a peaceful and organised manner and within a few weeks the seamans' demands had been met and a Royal Pardon granted.

It was noted Captain Lukin's vessel, HMS Thames[1] was the first to be ready to resume its duties within the Royal Navy.

At the behest of William Windham, Lukin was given the task of establishing a local militia in North East Norfolk.

Now the war with France had started, William Lukin was given command of various warships with the most notable being the 74-gun third-rate ship of the line HMS Mars.

This action was taken because there was concern in Britain that Napoleon might try to force Denmark to close the Baltic Sea to British ships, perhaps by marching French troops into Zealand.

[6] William Lukin's final command in the service of the Royal Navy was as captain of the 50-gun fourth rate ship of the line HMS Chatham.

[1] Lukin effectively left the navy in 1814[1] with the rank of vice admiral of the blue, just a year away from the end of the war; he saw no further active service.

After his retirement from the Navy, Lukin settled back to north Norfolk, to a small estate farm at Metton which was close to Felbrigg.

William Lukin Windham,[7] as he was now called, employed architect W. J. Donthorne[7] to remodel, extend, and alter the house and stable block.