A Naval Biographical Dictionary/La Touche, Ashley
LA TOUCHE. (Lieutenant, 1840.)
Ashley La Touche is one of the 14 children of the late Peter La Touche, Esq., of Bellevue, co. Wicklow, by the Hon. Charlotte Maude, daughter of Cornwallis Viscount Hawarden. His grandfather, the Right Hon. David La Touche, of Marlay, co. Dublin, was for many years Member in the Irish Parliament for his own borough of Newcastle and other places.
This officer entered the Navy 3 Feb. 1825; served as Midshipman of the Blonde 46, Capt. Edm. Lyons, at the bombardment of the Morea Castle in 1828; and passed his examination in 1832. Becoming Mate of the Imogene, Capt. Price Blackwood, he proceeded in that ship to China, where he assisted, in 1834, in forcing the passage of the Boca Tigris. For his services on the coast of Syria and at St. Jean d’Acre in the Revenge 76, Capt. Hon. Wm. Waldegrave, Mr. La Touche was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant 4 Nov. 1840. His appointments haye since been, on the North America and West India station – 21 April, 1841, as Additional, to the Winchester 50, flag-ship of Sir Thos. Harvey – 27 Aug. 1841, to the Vestal 26, Capt. John Parker, with whom he returned home and was paid off in 1842 – 19 Sept. 1843, again as Additional, to the Illustrious 72, bearing the flag of Sir Chas. Adam – 1 Jan. 1844, as First, to the Scylla 16, Capt. Robt. Sharpe – and, 17 Nov. 1844, in a similar capacity, to the Imaum 72, bearing the broad pendants of Commodores Alex. Renton Sharpe, Dan. Pring, and Geo. Robt. Lambert at Jamaica, where he is still employed. Agents – Messrs. Stilwell.