A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Goold, Hugh
GOOLD. (Commander, 1830. f-p., 19; h-p., 28.)
Hugh Goold, born 31 March, 1786, is only son of Hugh Goold, Esq., Purser, R.N., who served in that capacity on board the Buffalo 60, Capt. John Holloway, at the relief of Gibraltar in 1782, was afterwards the first to establish the Navy Agency business at Portsmouth, and ultimately died in the year 1787.
This officer entered the Navy, 16 Aug. 1800, as Midshipman, on board the Braakhel 54, Capt. Geo. Clarke, bearing the flag at Portsmouth of Rear-Admiral John Holloway; and, on next joining the Isis 50, Capt. Jas. Walker, took part in the battle of Copenhagen, 2 April, 1801. From the following July until Oct. 1806 wo find him serving with the latter officer and with Capts. John Perkins and Edw. Hawker in the Tartar 32; during which period he witnessed the capture, 25 June, 1803, of the 74-gun ship Duquesne, and schooner Oiseau, and was present at the blockade of Cape François, and the ensuing surrender of a French squadron with the remains of General Rochambeau’s army on board. He also on one occasion, when in charge of a prize, succeeded in suppressing a desperate attempt made by the prisoners to regain their vessel, but not until he had been personally engaged in a deadly struggle of nearly an hour’s duration with the chief of his assailants. So great indeed was the admiration entertained of Mr. Goold’s conduct in this desperate affair, that the Captain, officers, and crew of the Tartar united in presenting him with the sum of a hundred guineas. After serving for some time with Capt. Hawker in the Melampus 36, he was at length appointed Acting-Lieutenant, in 1807, of the Bellona 74, Capt. John Erskine Douglas, on the Halifax station; where, and in the Channel, he commanded the Vesta and Pokget schooners, from March, 1808, to June, 1810 – his promotion being confirmed during that period by commission dated 16 June in the former year. Mr. Goold, who appears to have been employed in the Walcheren expedition, was afterwards attached for four years to the Cadiz flotilla, part of the time as divisional officer. On 1 March, 1811, while in the execution of his duty, he had the misfortune to have one or two of his fingers broken and his hand otherwise fearfully lacerated, but he refused to resign the command of his gun-boat, and altogether conducted himself in such a manner as to draw forth the warm approbation of the present Sir Geo. Cockburn. In 1815-16 Mr. Goold next served on board the Contest and Childers sloops, Capts. Jas. Rattray and Rich. Wales, on the Home and West India stations; and he was subsequently appointed – 16 Dec. 1826, to the Transport service – and, in 1828-9-30, to the Senior-Lieutenancy of the Britannia, St. Vincent, and Caledonia, flagships at Plymouth of Lord Northesk and Sir Manley Dixon. . He attained the rank of Commander 22 July, 1830; and since 27 Aug. 1846 has been officiating as Second-Captain of the Ocean 80, and Victory 104, guard-ships at Sheerness and Portsmouth.
It is right that we should here record the fact that this officer has never been able to procure the slightest compensation for his wound, although he still acutely feels its effects. He married, 1 July, 1819, Harriet, only daughter of Jas. Knight, Esq., of Landport Terrace, Southsea, Portsmouth, by whom he has issue six sons and one daughter. One of the former, Hugh Hamilton, is a First-Lieutenant, R.M. Agent – Frederick Dufaur.