A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Coles, Richard
COLES. (Lieutenant, 1810, f-p., 11; h-p., 33.)
Richard Coles entered the Navy, 17 March, 1803, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Tonnant 80, Capt. Sir Edw. Pellew, whom, on his hoisting his flag in the Culloden 74, he accompanied to India. He there served (until his return home in Aug. 1810) on board the Blanche and Dédaigneuse frigates, Capts. John Bastard, Wm. Dawson, Geo. Bell, and Wm. Wilbraham, in which latter ship, after holding for 12 months the appointment of Acting-Lieutenant, he was officially promoted, 18 April, 1810. After a residence of two years on shore, occasioned by ill health, Mr. Coles next joined, on the American and Home stations – 6 Aug. 1812, the Melpomene troop-ship, Capts. Gordon Falcon and Robt. Rowley – and, 16 Sept. 1814, the Rover sloop, Capt. Henry Wm. Bruce. He was paid off in Sept. 1815, and has not since been afloat.