A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Coulson, Gustavus Hamilton
COULSON. (Commander, 1841. f-p., 18; h-p., 16.)
Gustavus Hamilton Coulson, born 7 Jan. 1801, is second son of John Blenkinsopp Coulson, Esq., of Blenkinsopp Castle, Lieut.-Colonel of the Northumberland Militia, and a Deputy-Lieutenant for that shire; brother of Capts. John and Robt. Coulson, of the Grenadier Guards; and nephew of Capt. Robt. Lisle Coulson, R.N., who died in 1822, aged 42.
This officer entered the Navy, 28 Oct. 1813, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Stork 18, commanded in the North Sea by his uncle, Capt. R. L. Coulson, with whom, and Capt. Edw. Curzon, he afterwards served in the West Indies until Nov. 1818, as Midshipman of the Pelican 18. In March, 1819, he joined the Newcastle 60, flag-ship of Rear-Admiral Edw. Griffith at Halifax, where he was confirmed, 7 Jan. 1823, to a Lieutenancy in the Niemen 28, Capt. Edw. Reynolds Sibly. We subsequently find him appointed – 29 Oct. 1825, to the Brisk 10, Capt. Chas. Hope, lying at Chatham – 23 Jan. 1826, to the Galatea 42, Capt. Sir Chas. Sullivan, in which ship he was stationed off the coast of Portugal at the time the army of occupation was at Lisbon, then visited the Morea with Sir Fred. Adam, Alexandria with the present Lord Howden, and Rio de Janeiro with Lord Strangford, and served for six months on the latter station under the broad pendant of Sir Thos. Masterman Hardy – 23 Feb. 1831, to the Alfred 50, Capt. Robt. Maunsell, with whom he appears to have been actively employed for three years in the Mediterranean, where he witnessed the establishment of King Otho on the throne of Greece, and was presented, when off Alexandria, with a sword by Mehemet All – and, 18 Nov. 1839, as First-Lieutenant, to the Blonde 42, Capt. Thos. Bourchier. For his zealous services during the ensuing hostilities in China, – where he was present at the early destruction of the batteries and war-junks at Amoy, witnessed the evacuation of Chusan, and commanded a division of boats in the various operations against Canton,[1] – Mr. Coulson was advanced to his present rank 8 June, 1841. He then returned home; and has not since held any appointment.
Commander Coulson married, in Dec. 1843, Anne Lindsay, only child of the Rev. Henry Wastell, of Newbrough, co. Northumberland. Agent – J. Woodhead.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1840, p. 2993, and Gaz. 1841, p. 1564.