A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Cobb, Thomas
COBB. (Lieut., 1824. f-p., 14; h-p., 23.)
Thomas Cobb, born 5 Oct. 1796, is son of the late Benj. Cobb, Esq., of New Romney, for 50 years a Magistrate for co. Kent, and one of the Barons of the Cinque Ports present at the Coronation of George IV. He is a direct descendant of John Cobb, Esq., of Cobb’s Court, in the Marshes of Romney, who flourished temp. Edward II.; and is brother of Lieut. Chas. Cobb, R.N., who, while First of the Castilian 18, Capt. David Braimer, was killed in action with the Boulogne flotilla, 21 Sept. 1811 – as also of Commander Smith Cobb, R.N. (1812), who died 8 Jan. 1833.
This officer entered the Navy, 5 Oct. 1810, as Sec.-cl. Vol., on board the Venerable 74, Capt. Sir Home Popham, employed in the Channel and off the north coast of Spain; became Midshipman, in Sept. 1813, of the Stirling Castle 74, commanded by the same officer, whom he accompanied to the East Indies; and, from Aug. 1814, until the close of 1815 (when he returned home as Master’s-Mate of the Thracian 18, Capt. John Carter), served in the West Indies on board the Onyx 10, Capt. Smith Cobb (his brother). He then joined the Bulwark 74, Capts. Geo. M‘Kinley and Sam. Warren, at the Nore, and, passing his examination 2 Oct. 1816, was next employed in the Coast Blockade, from Oct. 1818 to Sept. 1822, as Midshipman and Admiralty-Mate of the Severn, Capt. Wm. M‘Culloch. After an additional attachment to the Apollo guard-ship, Capt. Sir Chas. Paget, lying at Portsmouth, Jasper 10, and Terror bomb, both commanded by Capt. Alex. Dundas Young Arbuthnott (with whom he visited St. Petersburg and Algiers), and Atholl 28, Capt. Jas. Arthur Murray, lying at Portsmouth, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant 14 Oct. 1824. He has not since been afloat.
Lieut. Cobb, who is a Magistrate for the borough of New Romney, and Deputy-Chairman of the Board of Guardians, married, 4 March, 1836, Eliza, daughter of John Green, Esq., of Eltham, co. Kent, and widow of the late R. Newbald, Esq., by whom he has issue nine children.