A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Coakley, Thomas
COAKLEY. (Retired Commander, 1840.)
Thomas Coakley entered the Navy, 25 Jan. 1798, as A.B., on board the Lynx 16, Capt. Robt. Hall, and, while cruizing off the coast of North America, assisted in capturing, 27 June, 1798, Le Mentor privateer, of 14 guns and 79 men. About the commencement of the century he became Master’s Mate of the Assistance 50, Capt. Rich. Lee, On the North Sea station; and, after an additional attachment to the Andromache 38, Capt. Robt. Laurie, obtained an Acting-Lieutenancy in the Téméraire 98, Capt. Elias Harvey, in time to participate in the battle off Cape Trafalgar, 21 Oct. 1805, on which occasion the latter ship was stationed next astern of the Victory, and enacted a most distinguished and important part. Having been officially promoted in the Gibraltar 80, Capt. Whitby, the subject of this sketch soon afterwards rejoined Capt., then Rear-Admiral, Harvey, as his Flag-Lieutenant, on board the Tonnant 80, off Cape Finisterre; from which ship we next find him transferred to the Procris 18, part of Lord Gambler’s force during his operations against Copenhagen in Aug. and Sept. 1807. On subsequently proceeding to the Cape of Good Hope with Capt. Jas. Murray Gordon, he joined the Raisonnable 64, Capts. Josias Rowley and John Hatley; and, in Sept. 1809, took part in the reduction of St. Paul’s, Isle Bourbon. Since 1812, in the course of which period he further served, on the Jamaica station, in the Polyphemus 64, Capt. Peter John Douglas, and Thalia 36, Capt. Jas. Giles Vashon, Commander Coakley has been unemployed. He assumed his present rank 29 Dec. 1840.