A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Brydges, Thomas
BRYDGES. (Lieut., 1823. f-p., 17; h-p., 22.)
Thomas Brydges entered the Navy, 23 Jan. 1808, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Aetna bomb, Capts. Wm. Godfrey and John Bowker, then stationed in the Baltic. Under the former officer he assisted at the destruction of the French shipping in Aix Roads in April, 1809, on which occasion the Aetna had the honour of leading in and anchoring inside the batteries, with which she continued to be engaged until the 29th. With Capt. Bowker, Mr. Brydges took part in the ensuing reduction of Flushing, as well as in all those harassing services up the Scheldt, for which, including the bombardment of Fort Lillo, Sir Richard Strachan returned his thanks in public orders. After a further employment of some months at the defence of Cadiz, where he witnessed the attack of the French on Fort Matagorda, he accompanied Capt. Bowker, in Sept. 1810, into the Wizard 16, commanded subsequently by Capts. Fairfax Moresby and Walter Croker, on the Mediterranean station. While attached to that vessel, Mr. Brydges served in her boats, as Master’s Mate, at the capture, in April, 1812, of two French privateers, one a felucca, of 8 guns and 60 men, the other a settee, of 4 guns and 45 men; commanded, on 18 Aug. 1813, a boat at the successful storming of the French batteries at the entrance of the Booca di Cattaro; was employed in the batteries at the siege of Trieste, in Oct following; and afterwards participated in many boat affairs on the river Po. He passed his examination 20 March, 1814; was paid off from the Wizard in Sept. 1815; then joined the Erne 20, Capt. Rich. Spencer, under whom he experienced a great deal of arduous boat-service in the Archipelago, until his return home in Dec. 1817; and became attached subsequently in succession to the Spencer 74, Capt. Wm. Robt. Broughton, in the Channel, Raleigh 18, Capt. Wm. Augustus Baumgardt, in the West Indies, Brazen 24, Capt. Wm. Shepheard, off St. Helena and the Cape, Ramillies 74, Capt. Edw. Bruce, at Portsmouth, and Owen Glendower 36, Commodore Sir Robt. Mends, employed in suppression of the slave-trade on the coast of Africa. He became Acting-Lieutenant of the Bann 20, Capt. Thos. Saumarez, 1 Aug. 1823; obtained his official promotion on 22 Oct. in the same year; and since 2 June, 1846, has been employed in the Victory 104, flag-ship at Portsmouth of Rear-Admiral Hyde Parker.
Lieut. Brydges married, in 1827, the daughter of Thos. Williams, Esq., an eminent solicitor.