A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Cumby, David Charles
CUMBY. (Lieut., 1829. f-p., 13; h-p., 13.)
David Charles Cumby is second son of the late Capt.W. P.Cumby, R.N., C.B. (1806), who succeeded Capt. John Cooke in the command of the Bellerophon during the battle of Trafalgar; had charge of a squadron at the siege of St. Domingo in 1809; became afterwards Senior Captain of the Navy; and died Superintendent of Pembroke Dockyard, 27 Sept. 1837. He is nephew of Commander Chas. Cumby, R.N.
This officer entered the Royal Naval College 6 April, 1821; and embarked, in Nov. 1822, on board the Sappho 18, Capt. Jenkin Jones, with whom he served for some time on the coast of Ireland. He afterwards, and in succession, joined, as Midshipman, the Niemen 28, Capt. Provo Wm. Parry Wallis, Atholl 28, Capt. Jas. Arthur Murray, Brazen 26, Capt. Geo. Wickens Willes, and Forte 44, Capt. Jeremiah Coghlan, which ships appear to have been employed on the Home, African, and South American stations. Having passed his examination in Nov. 1827, Mr. Cumby was promoted, 7 Dec. 1829, to a Lieutenancy in the Warspite 76, flag-ship of Rear-Admiral Thos. Baker. He was subsequently appointed – 20 Sept. 1831, and 21 Dec. 1832, to the Fly 18, Capt. Peter M‘Quhae, and Sapphire 28, Capt. Hon. Geo. Rolle Walpole Trefusis, both on the North America and West India station – 11 July, 1835, to the Russell 74, Capt. Sir Wm. Henry Dillon, off Lisbon – and, 20 May, 1837, to the Howe 120, bearing the flag at the Nore of Sir Robt. Waller Otway. He has been on half-pay since 1838.