A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Heales, Thomas
HEALES. (Lieut., 1827. f-p., 16; h-p., 22)
Thomas Heales was born 23 April, 1794, and died 22 Nov. 1846 at Dalston, co. Middlesex.
This officer entered the Navy, 12 June, 1809, as a Volunteer, on board the Rota 38, Capt. Philip Somerville. In the boats of that frigate, after attending the expedition to the Walcheren, he served at the siege of Cadiz, and assisted, 22 May, 1812, at the capture, vrtth great loss to the British, of L’Espardon privateer, of 3 guns and 45 men. He subsequently, during a cruize off the Western Islands, participated, as Midshipman, in an unsuccessful attempt made on 26 Sept. 1814 to cut out from the road of Fayal the American privateer General Armstrong, a vessel whose resistance killed 34, and wounded 86 of her assailants, consisting originally of about 180 seamen and marines. In the course of 1815 Mr. Heales joined the Albion and Queen 74’s, Capts. P. Somerville and Jas. Walker; from the latter of which ships he volunteered, in July, 1816, into the Infernal bomb, Capt. Hon. Geo. Percival, for the purpose of attending the expedition against Algiers, where he fought as Master’s Mate, having at the time the charge of a Lieutenant’s watch. For his conduct on the occasion Mr. Heales was to have been promoted, but the commission, we understand, which had been actually intended for him being by some fatality given to another person, a Mr. Geo. Hales, he did not succeed in effecting his advancement until after a lapse of nearly 11 years; during which period he appears to have been employed, on the North and South American, St. Helena, Irish, East India, and Home stations, as Admiralty-Midshipman, in succession, of the Pactolus 38, Capt. Hugh Dobbie, Blossom 18, Capts. Fred. Hickey and Fred. Edw. Vernon, Brazen 18, Capt. Wm. Shepheard, Alligator 28, Capt. Thos. Alexander, Prince Regent 120, flagship of Sir Robt. Moorsom, and Ramillies Coast-Blockade-ship, Capt. Hugh Pigot. He was then at length created a Lieutenant by commission bearing date 28 April, 1827; and in that capacity he afterwards, from 10 Jan. 1838 until Feb. 1839, served at Sheerness on board the Howe 120, and Ocean 80, Capts. Chas. Hen. Paget and Sir John Hill.
Lieut. Heales married Maria, daughter of Mr. Butler Wm. Mountain, coach proprietor, of the Saracen’s Head, Snow Hill, London, and of Whetstone House, Whetstone, near Barnet, co. Middlesex, by whom he has left issue.