A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Le Hardy, Thomas Philip
LE HARDY, K.S.F., K.I.C. (Commander, 1837. f-p., 20; h-p., 9.)
Thomas Philip Le Hardy, born 1 May, 1803, is a native of Jersey, where his family for many centuries past has occupied a prominent position. Three of his ancestors attained Flag-rank. One of them was Sir Thos. Hardy, whose decisive conduct, when in command of H.M.S. Pembroke, led to the action off Vigo under Sir Geo. Rooke 11 Oct. 1702; and another, Sir Chas. Hardy, who commanded the Channel fleet, and died Governor of Greenwich Hospital about 1780.
This officer entered the Navy, 1 Aug. 1818, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Confiance 18, Capt. Alex. Montgomerie; and sailed for the West Indies, where, until 1823, he served, the last three years as Midshipman, in the Sybille 48, Capt. Wm. Popham, Ontario 18, Capt. Jodrell Leigh, and Sybille again, Capt. Joshua Ricketts Rowley. From Dec. 1823 until May, 1827, we find him employed on the South American, Irish, and Jamaica stations, as Midshipman, Mate, and Acting-Lieutenant (he passed his examination in April, 1825), on board the Tweed 28, Capt. Fred. Hunn. He was then for four months engaged on home duty in the Melville 74, Capt. Henry Hill; and at the expiration of that period he proceeded to the coast of Africa as Mate of the Primrose 18, Capt. Thos. Saville Griffihoofe. On his removal there, in Jan. 1829, to his old ship the Sybille, bearing the broad pendant at the time of Commodore Fras. Augustus Collier, Mr. Le Hardy was sent to cruize, as Senior Mate, in the Black Joke tender, mounting but 1 gun, a long 18-pounder on a pivot, with a crew of 34 men, Lieut.-Commander Henry Downes. In that vessel it was soon his fortune to participate in a most brilliant exploit; nothing less than the capture of the Spanish slaver El Almirante of 14 guns (10 eighteens and 4 long nines) and 80 men, after 11 hours had been absorbed in sweeping up, and a close action endured of 80 minutes, in which the British had 3 men killed and 7 wounded, and the enemy 15 killed and 13 wounded. Mr. Le Hardy, who was himself wounded, and who appears to have shared in two other engagements, was rewarded for his valour on the occasion by a commission dated 2 May, 1829. He did not, however, succeed in obtaining a fresh appointment until Nov. 1833; on 20 of which month he assumed command of the Saracen brig, of 10 guns. Being ordered at first to the coast of Portugal, we find him serving for some time at Lisbon and off Oporto during the contest between Pedro and Miguel; and afterwards sent to the north coast of Spain, where he was actively employed with the squadron under Lord John Hay, particularly on the Bilboa river. For his conduct at the relief of that city in Dec. 1836, he not only received, in common with others, the thanks of the Admiralty, but was promoted to the rank of Commander 6 Jan. 1837, and presented by the Queen of Spain with the Third Class of the Order of San Fernando, as also with the Companionship of the Order of Isabella la Catolica, and a decoration commemorative of the event. He left the Saracen in April, 1837; was employed, next, in the Coast Guard, from 13 July, 1838, until July, 1843; and since 4 June, 1846, has been in command of the Fantomb 16, in the Mediterranean.
Commander Le Hardy married, in Nov. 1833, Louisa Jane, second daughter of Chas. de la Garde, Esq., of Jersey. Agents – Coplands and Burnett.