A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Coleman, Thomas
COLEMAN. (Commander, 1837. f-p., 17; h-p., 25.)
Thomas Coleman entered the Navy, 26 Sept. 1805, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Belleisle 74, Capt. Wm. Hargood, and was present; 21 Oct. following, in the battle of Trafalgar. Becoming attached, 1 June, 1806, as Midshipman, to the Defiance 74, Capt. Hon. Henry Hotham, he assisted at the destruction, 24 Feb. 1809, of three French frigates under the batteries of Sable d’Olonne, on which occasion the Defiance, besides being much cut up in her masts and rigging, sustained a loss of 2 men killed and 25 wounded; after which he actively co-operated with the patriots on the north coast of Spain. In March, 1812, Mr. Coleman removed to the Victory 100, bearing the flag in the Baltic of Sir Jas. Saumarez, where he soon again joined the Defiance, then flag-ship of Sir Geo. Hope. After a short attachment, as a Supernumerary, to the Devonshire 74, Capt. Ross Donnelly, lying at Sheerness, he proceeded, early in 1814, to North America on board the Spencer 74, and on his return to England in June, 1815, found that he had been awarded a Lieutenant’s commission on 16 of the previous February. His succeeding appointments, until promoted to his present rank, 5 Dec. 1837, appear to have been, on the Mediterranean station – 28 Feb. 1824, to the Medina 20, Capt. Chas. Montagu Walker – 4 Oct. 1828, to the Spartiate 76, Capt. Fred. Warren – and, 25 Feb. 1831, and 23 April, 1834, to the St. Vincent 120, and Caledonia 120, flag-ships of Hon. Sir Henry Hotham and Sir Josias Rowley. Commander Coleman, since 1837, has been on half-pay.
He married, 29 Nov. 1843, Eliza Ann, eldest daughter of the late Robt. Bullock, Esq., Commissary-General of H.M. Forces. Agent – J. Hinxman.