A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Knevitt, Thomas Lepard
KNEVITT. (Lieut., 1815. f-p., 18; h-p., 25.)
Thomas Lepard Knevitt was born 16 Feb. 1780. His only brother, a Midshipman of the Bulwark 74, was drowned in Cawsand Bay in 1813.
This officer entered the Navy, 15 Aug. 1804, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Penguin 18, Capt. Geo. Morris, with whom he continued to serve in the Elk, Renard, and Magnet sloops, on the Jamaica and Baltic stations, nearly the whole time as Midshipman and Master’s Mate, until wrecked on the ice, 11 Jan. 1809. He then joined the Sceptre 74, Capts. Joseph Bingham and Sam. Jas. Ballard, and while in that ship was employed in the expedition to the Walcheren, where, in a gun-boat, he assisted at thp landing of the troops. Proceeding next to the West Indies, he there, on 18 Dec. 1809, served in the boats of a squadron under Lieut. John Wyborn at the destruction of the two French 40-gun frigates 'Loire' and Seine, and of the batteries in L’Anse la Barque, Guadeloupe, by which they had been protected. During the operations which led to the reduction of the latter island Mr. Knevitt landed with 100 seamen under the orders of Lieut. Elliot; but that officer being killed at the onset, the command devolved upon him, and he retained it until the island was thoroughly conquered. In March, 1811, a few months after he had passed his examination, he removed to the Vengeur 74, flagship of Sir Joseph Sydney Yorke off Cherbourg; and in the following Dec. we find him joining the Bulwark 74, bearing at first the broad pendant of Sir Rich. King, and afterwards the flag of Rear-Admiral Philip Chas. Durham, on the Home station. On 16 and 20 Jan. 1814, being at the time on his passage to the West Indies with the last-mentioned officer in the Venerable 74, we find him contributing to the capture, not without opposition, of the French frigates Iphigénie and Alcmène, of 44 guns each.[1] On the latter occasion he led the boarders, and received the French Captain’s sword; and on 28 of the ensuing month, as a reward for his distinguished conduct, he was promoted to an Acting-Lieutenancy in the Palma 38, Capt. Jas. Andrew Worth. He was officially promoted 1 Feb. 1815, and was afterwards appointed – 19 Oct. 1824, to the Coast Blockade, in which service he continued, as Supernumerary-Lieutenant of the Ramillies 74, and Hyperion 42, Capts. Wm. M‘Culloch and Wm. Jas. Mingaye, until superseded in Sept. 1826, in consequence of a wound he had received from a spring-gun when in pursuit of a party of smugglers – and, 8 March, 1827, to the command of the Semaphore station at Holder Hill. He has been on half-pay since March, 1832.
Lieut. Knevitt’s testimonials are of a very flattering character, proving his gallantry to have been most exemplary, and his conduct at all times worthy of the highest commendation. He married, first, in Jan. 1820, Amelia, daughter of Capt. Thos. Morris; and secondly, in Dec. 1822, Miss Elizabeth Williams Price. He has issue nine sons and two daughters.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1814, p. 440.