A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Dickson, David John
DICKSON. (Commander, 1827. f-p., 20;. h-p., 24.)
David John Dickson, born 24 Oct. 1790, at Sydenham House, near Kelso, is eldest son of the late Wm. Dickson, Esq., Admiral of the Blue, who died in 1803, by his second wife, Miss Elizabeth Charteris; and half-uncle of the present Sir Wm. Dickson, Bart., Capt. R.N.
This officer entered the Navy, 4 April, 1803, as Midshipman, on board the Sceptre 74, commanded by his half-brother, Capt. Sir Archibald Collingwood Dickson, in which ship, and the Albion 74, Capt. John Ferrier, he served, on the East India station, until his return home, in 1808, on board the St. Fiorenzo 40,- Capt. John Bastard. In the course of 1809 he next successively joined the Nassau 64, Capt. Robt. Campbell, Culloden 74, bearing the flag of Sir Edw. Pellew, and Orion 74, Capt. Sir A. C. Dickson. In the latter ship, of which he was created a Lieutenant on his return from the Walcheren expedition, 8 Nov. 1809, Mr. Dickson continued to serve until Jan. 1814, being very actively engaged during that period in escorting convoys through the Great Belt. After a further attachment to the Colossus and Achille 74’s, Capts. Thos. Alexander and Aiskew Paffard Hollis, on the Home and Brazilian stations, he joined, 14 May, 1816, the Britomart 10, Capts. Robt. Riddell, Constantine Rich. Moorsom, and Hon. Geo. Jas. Perceval, under the first of whom he bore a part, as Senior Lieutenant, in the battle of Algiers; 27 Aug. following. His succeeding appointments appear to have been – 3 Feb. 1817, to the Rochfort 80, Capt. Sir A. C. Dickson, guard-ship at Portsmouth – 29 March, 1819, to the Falmouth 18, Capt. Henry Theodosius Browne Collier – 11 May, 1820, to the Alacrity 10, Capt. Henry Stanhope – 19 Feb. 1821, and 16 Jan. 1823, to the command of the Hornet and Basilisk cutters, on the Home station – 22 Aug. 1825, to the Pandora 18, Capt. Wm. Clarke Jervoise, one of an experimental squadron sent to the Cape of Good Hope – and, 14 March, 1827, to the command of the Sylvia cutter. He acquired the rank he now holds 29 Sept. 1827, and has since been on half-pay.
He married, 21 Aug. 1828, Hester, second surviving daughter of the late Rev. Wm. Rawlins, M.A., Rector of Tevresal, co. Notts.