A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Boardman, Thomas
BOARDMAN. (Lieut., 1811. f-p., 11; h-p., 33.)
Thomas Boardman entered the Navy, 31 Dec. 1803, as a Supernumerary, on board the Princess floating battery, Capt. Sam. Colquitt, stationed at Liverpool; was next employed, as Fst.-cl. Vol. and Midshipman, in the Bonetta sloop, Capts. Savage and Probyn, off Boulogne and in the North Sea; joined, in May, 1805, the Eurydice 24, Capt. Wm. Hoste; and from Oct. following until 4 Jan. 1811, with the interval of a few months in 1810, when we find him in the Centaur 74, flag-ship off Toulon of Sir Sam. Hood, served with the same Captain, part of the time as Master’s Mate, in the Amphion 32. While in that ship he witnessed the invasion of Calabria in July, 1806, and, on 30 of the same month, a successful attack upon the important fortress of Cotrone; was present, 12 May, 1808, in a spirited engagement of some hours with the batteries in the Bay of Rosas in an attempt to capture from under their protection the French frigate-built 800-ton store-ship Balleine, mounting from 26 to 30 guns, with a crew of about 150 men; and, on 27 Aug. 1809, served in the boats under Lieut. Chas. Geo. Rodney Phillott, at the gallant destruction of the fort of Cortelazzo, near Trieste, and capture of a number of gun-boats and merchantmen anchored for safety beneath its walls.[1] On leaving the Amphion, Mr. Boardman became Acting-Lieutenant of the Acorn 18, Capts. Robt. Clephane, Fairfax Moresby, and Geo. Miller Bligh, but soon afterwards, from his intimate knowledge of the Adriatic navigation, volunteered his services in the Belle Poule 38, Capt. Jas. Brisbane, for a cruize in that sea, where, on 5 May following, he assisted at the destruction, in face of considerable opposition from the enemy, of a French 18-gun brig, in the harbour of Parenza.[2] Being confirmed in the rank of Lieutenant on 8 Aug. in the same year, he successively joined, in that capacity – 12 Dec. ensuing, the Bulwark 74, bearing the broad pendant in the Channel of Commodore Rich. Goodwin Keats, and afterwards the flag of Rear-Admiral Philip Chas. Durham – 11 May, 1813, the Rover 18, Capt. Justice Finley, stationed in Basque Boads – and, 20 Dec. 1813, the Superb 74, Capt. Hon. Chas. Paget, employed off New York and New London. Since Aug. 1814, in the course of which month he invalided home, Mr. Boardman has been on half-pay.