A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Cull, Thomas (a)
CULL. (Retired Commander, 1844. f-p., 14; h-p., 38.)
Thomas Cull (a) died, 22 Sept. 1846, at Plympton, Devon, aged 71.
This officer entered the Navy, in Dec. 1794, as Ordinary, on board the Peterel 18, Capt. Edw. Leveson Gower, stationed in the North Sea. Joining, as Midshipman, in April, 1795, the Babet 20, Capts. Edw. Codrington and Wm. Grenville Lobb, he sailed for the West Indies, where he continued principally to serve, until 1802, as Master’s Mate of L’Aimable 32, Capt. W. G. Lobb, and Hydra 38, and Powerful 74, both commanded by Capt. Sir F. Laforey. When in the Hydra, cruizing in company with the Trial cutter, and Vesuvius bomb, Mr. Cull, on 1 May, 1798, witnessed the destruction, after an engagement of three-quarters of an hour, of La Confiante, French frigate of 36 guns and 300 men, and the simultaneous defeat of La Vésuve, corvette of 20 guns. He re-embarked, in May, 1803, on board the Nimrod 18, Capt. Terence O’Neill; and afterwards joined, as Acting-Master, the Milbrook schooner, Capt. John Cook Carpenter, and Star 18, Capt. John Simpson – in the former of which vessels he contributed to the capture, 9 May, 1805, of La Travela, Spanish privateer, of 3 guns and 40 men. Obtaining his commission 16 Jan. 1808, he was subsequently appointed, 19 March, 1808, and 23 Jan. 1809, to the Belle Poule 38, Capt. J. Brisbane, and Lucifer bomb, Capt. R. Hall, both on the Mediterranean station – and, 23 Nov. in the latter year, to the Valiant 74, Capt. John Bligh, stationed in the Channel. Commander Cull, who invalided from extreme bad health, in May, 1810, and had been ever since on half-pay, accepted retired rank 19 Oct. 1844.