A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Evans, Thomas (a)
EVANS. (Retired Commander, 1837. f-p., 19; h-p., 35.)
Thomas Evans entered the Navy, in July, 1793, as Ordinary, on board the Comet fire-ship, Capts. Wm. Bradley and Edw. Codrington, under the former of whom he took part in Lord Howe’s action of 1 June, 1794. Accompanying Capt. Codrington, as Coxswain, into the Babet 22, he was next present in Lord Bridport’s encounter with the French fleet off Ile de Groix, 23 June, 1795; after which he served, as A.B. and Quartermaster, in the Prince George and Glory 98’s, flag-ships in the Channel of Sir Hugh Cloberry Christian, and, as Midshipman and Master’s Mate, on the Mediterranean, West India, and Home stations, in the Calcutta armed transport, commanded at the reduction of Minorca by Capt. Richard Poulden, and in the Dryad frigate, Capts. Robt. Williams and Wm. Domett. In Feb. 1803, he rejoined Capt. Williams in the Russel 74, and, proceeding with convoy to the East Indies, was there promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, 12 April, 1805. In Sept. 1806, having returned to England in the Medusa frigate, Capt. Sir John Gore, he obtained command of a Signal station. He was subsequently appointed – 13 June, 1808, to the Impress service at Liverpool – 5 Dec. 1811, to the Alfred 74, off Cadiz – and, 11 June, 1812, to the command of the Mullet, for the purpose of surveying the port of Liverpool. Commander Evans, who has been on half-pay since June, 1813, accepted his present rank 23 Oct. 1837.