A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Blainey, Thomas Morley
BLAINEY. (Retired Commander, 1837. f-p., 14; h-p., 38.)
Thomas Morley Blainey entered the Navy, 10 March, 1795, as Captain’s Servant, on board the Arrogant 74, Capts. Rich. Lucas and Edw. Oliver Osborn, under the former of whom, in Sept. following, he assisted at the reduction of the Cape of Good Hope. From Aug. to Dec. 1796, he served, as Acting-Lieutenant, in the Hon art sloop, Capt. Benj. Wm. Page, on the East India station, whence, after having, in that capacity, rejoined the Arrogant, he invalided, 28 April, 1801. In Nov. 1803, Mr. Blainey became attached to the Foudroyant 80, bearing the flag of Sir Thos. Graves in the Channel; and, on 7 Sept. 1804, he was made Lieutenant into the Espoir brig, Capts. Joseph Edmonds and Wm. King. With the latter officer he was again employed very actively at the taking of the Cape in Jan. 1806. Having intermediately served on board the Diadem 64, bearing the broad pendant of Sir Home Popham, he assumed command, 9 March ensuing, of the Protector gun-brig, in which he proceeded to the East Indies, and afterwards, we believe, participated in most of the operations preceding the evacuation of Spanish America by the British, about Sept. 1807. On 25 Dec. in the same year we find him appointed to the Brunswick 74, Capt. Thos. Graves, and on the occasion of the embarkation of the Marquis de la Romana’s army from Nyeborg, in Aug. 1808, contributing, in command of a boat, to the capture of a Danish brig of 18, and cutter of 10 guns. From July to Oct. 1809, he appears to have had charge of gun-boat No. 80, and during the whole of that period to have been employed in attendance on the Walcheren expedition. His subsequent appointments were, as First-Lieutenant – 24 July, 1811, to the Colossus 74, Capt. Thos. Alexander – 11 Aug. 1812, to the Circe 28, Capt. Edw. Woolcombe – and, after an interval of more than two years, 13 Oct. 1815, to the Vengeur 74, Capt. T. Alexander – all on the Home station. Having been on half-pay since 24 March, 1816, he ultimately, on 19 May, 1837, accepted the rank of Retired Commander. Agents – Messrs. Ommanney.