A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Cull, Thomas (b)
CULL. (Lieut., 1812. f-p., 12; h-p., 32.)
Thomas Cull (b) was born, in 1793, at Poole, co. Dorset. This officer entered the Navy, 19 Sept. 1803, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Repulse 74, Capt. Hon. Arthur Kaye Legge. During a period of more than seven years’ continuance in that ship, he appears to have taken part in Sir Robt. Calder’s action with the combined fleets of France and Spain 22 July, 1805 – the capture of the Marengo, of 80 guns, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Linois, and 40-gun frigate Belle Poule, 13 March, 1806 – the taking also of Le President 44, by a squadron under Sir Thos. Louis, 27 Sept. following – the passage of the Dardanells, in Feb. 1807 – and the expedition to the Walcheren, in Aug. 1809. About the latter date he accidentally fell from the fore topmast cross-trees on the lee gangway, and had the misfortune to break two of his ribs. Having passed his examination 13 Aug. 1810, Mr. Cull, when at Gibraltar on his passage home in the Montagu 74, Capt. John Halliday, volunteered, in May, 1811, to join the flotilla service on that and the Cadiz stations. In July following he assumed, with the rank of Acting-Lieutenant, the command of No. 16 gun-boat, and, for his varied services, including his conduct at the defence of Tarifa and his gallantry in several vigorous attacks on the enemy’s privateers and other armed vessels, on one of which occasions he received a wound, was confirmed in his present rank by commission dated 21 March, 1812. On the night of 29 April following we find Mr. Cull, with his gun-vessel, warmly assisting Capt. Thos. Ussher in a valiant boat attack upon the enemy’s privateers and batteries in the Mole of Malaga; an enterprize which, although partially successful, terminated in a loss to the British, out of 149 officers and men, of 15 killed and 53 wounded. He invalided home in the ensuing July; and was next appointed, 29 Jan. 1813, to the Lyra 10, Capts. Robt. Bloye and Dowell O’Reilly. In the course of that and the following year, be actively co-operated with the patriots on the north coast of Spain, where he served at the sieges of Guetaria, Castro, and St. Sebastian, and was also employed in the Rivers Adour and Gironde. He was paid off in Aug. 1815, and has not since been afloat.
Lieut. Cull is a Magistrate for the borough of Totness, in Devonshire. He married, first, in 1815, Miss Jemima Colson, of Exeter, by whom he has issue one daughter; and, secondly, in 1820, Miss Mary Ann Spear, of Monkton, co. Dorset. In 1843 he again became a widower.